*     i 


It    K     ""     I 


HE5>: 


1  i 


^ 

♦***M*y*y^^'i^tC>XX»MMCC^tC<^*^1  n  ^  ~*  *• 

IlissHSSS^ 

cccc*****-^  •** 


/mwrt^*ww<rVM«yi*WW»p 


was* 


Jtiwjrfvlnl 


-:■•'.■  >.;"■:. 


»'W. 


THE  GIST  OF  IT 


UTHE  GIST  OF  IT 

for 

HEALING,  HEALTH  AND 
HAPPINESS  y 

HAYDON  ROCHESTER,  M.  D. 


"AND  WITH  THY   GETTING,  GET 
UNDERSTANDING." 

FOR 

"YOU  DO  NOT  HAVE  TO  FIGHT, 
YOU  DO  NOT  HAVE  TO  STRUGGLE, 
YOU  ONLY  HAVE  TO  KNOW." 


PUBLISHED  BY 

H.  S.  CROCKER  COMPANY 

SAN  FRANCISCO 


/Mr 


Copyright,  1919 

by 

Haydon  Rochester  M.  D. 


THE  GIST  OF  IT 


you  can  be  well 


No  disease  is  a  thing  in  itself,  but  is  either  a 
reaction  or  a  compromise. 

Acute  disease  is  nature's  reaction  to  contami- 
nation and  signifies  vitality. 

Prompt  recovery  is  the  rule. 

Chronic  disease  is  a  needless  compromise  of 
feelings,  tension,  morbid  suggestion,  ignorance, 
fear  and  neglect. 

It  is  therefore  but  an  artificial  thing  and  you 
can  break  it. 

The  law  of  healing  is  the  perfect  law,  silent 
but  eternally  operative. 

— you  can  be  happy 

Unhappiness  is  merely  maladjustment,  or  the 
final  effect  of  faulty  adaptations. 

Readjustment  is  always  feasible,  with  restora- 
tion to  capabilities  otherwise  undreamed. 


— you  can  prosper 

It  is  the  God-wished  birthright  of  every  living 
creature  that  he  be  well,  happy  and  prosperous 
in  terms  of  his  own  unfolding  personality. 

You  are  an  aspiring  human  soul. 

Receive  and  demonstrate  now. 


[in] 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Gist  of  It .     .     m 

Introduction ix 

PAET  I.  PSYCHOLOGY 

Elementary  Principles 3 

Energy,  Mind  and  Body. 
Psychological  Mechanisms 7 

Suggestion,  Distraction,  Defense,  Eepression,  The 
Complex,  Conversion,  Summary. 
The  Subconscious 15 

Dissociation. 
Motives 19 

Self-Preservation,  Self -Projection,  Self-Eespect, 
Conflict. 
Pathology 23 

Physical,  Nervous,  Perverse,  Mental,  Origin, 
Commentary. 
The  Psychology  of  Sex 31 

Definition,  Dangers,  Evolution,  Normality,  Bisexuality, 
Psychopathology,  Sublimation,  Summary. 
The  Psychology  op  the  Sexes .43 

Children. 
The  Personality 45 

Triunity,  Disproportion,  Distress,  The  Soul,  Spirit. 

PAET  II.  GOOD  HEALTH  AND  HEALING 

Considerations  Physical 53 

Air,  Water,  Eest,  Food,  Exercise,  Sunshine,  Shelter, 
Clothing. 

[V] 


Contents 

PAGE 

Superstitions 59 

Heredity,  Prenatalism,  Disease,  Wearing  Out,  Dura- 
tion, Change  of  Life,  Sex  Incidents,  Nervous. 

14  Recommendations 63 

Healing  Methods 67 

Surgery,  Medicine,  Manipulation,   Suggestion, 
Metaphysics. 

Healing 71 

Self-Help,     Assistance,     Eequirements,     Obstacles, 
Facilities,  The  Gist  of  It,  Information,  Technique, 
Promise. 
Diagram 81 

PAET  III.     THE  ATTAINMENT 

Subjectivity 87 

The  Subconscious,  Substance,  Libido,  God,  What  and 

Where,  Extra-Conscious   Mind,   Realization,   Signs, 

Metaphysics,  Application,  Formula,  Advice. 

Life  Plan 101 

Enrichment 107 

Light 115 

Faith,   The   Bible,   The   Ten   Commandments   Today, 

Prayer,    Reading,    Miracles,    Other    Sources,    The 

Truth. 


[VI] 


INTRODUCTION 

THE  writer  of  this  book  was  born  and  bred 
to  be  a  physician,  being  the  fourth  of  his 
name  in  his  own  family,  and  having  been 
afforded  the  utmost  advantage  in  training, 
both  in  this  country  and  Europe,  may  be 
presumed  to  be  qualified  to  take  an  intelligent 
and  experienced  view  of  the  subjects  herein 
considered. 

Succeeding  some  years  of  general  medical 
and  surgical  practice,  the  special  field  of  ner- 
vous and  mental  disorder  was  cultivated,  and 
this  revealed  the  importance  of  a  comprehen- 
sive knowledge  of  psychology,  which  shows, 
by  penetrating  to  first  causes  in  the  problem 
of  human  disability,  that  about  four-fifths  of 
all  ailment  consists  essentially  of  mental  or 
emotional  tension,  reacting  upon  the  mind  or 
the  body  to  produce  the  symptoms  manifested. 

In  other  words,  most  abnormalities  are  in 
fact  nothing  more  than  the  outward  evidence 
of  an  unresolved  straining  compromise  among 
motives  in  conflict,  or  the  material  resultants 
of  contending,  internal,  and  strictly  psycho- 
logical forces,  frequently  unconscious  or 
subconscious,  and  therefore  requiring  this 
objective  exposition  to  the  end  that  they  may 
be  dissipated. 

[IX] 


Introduction 

Part  I  of  this  volume  presents  the  psychol- 
ogy involved,  part  II  sets  forth  the  basic  prin- 
ciples of  good  health  and  healing,  and  part  HI 
presumes  to  rationalize  a  still  higher  realiza- 
tion without  which  no  soul  is  sound. 

The  book  should  be  read  more  than  once, 
in  order  to  derive  its  full  message,  which  is 
purposely  compressed  for  transmission;  and 
occasion  is  here  taken  to  make  grateful  ac- 
knowledgment to  the  psychoanalysts  for  an 
essential  element  in  the  writer's  professional 
equipment;  to  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  McCollum, 
psychological  lecturer  supreme,  for  her  prac- 
tical awakening  to  the  resources  of  the  sub- 
conscious; for  the  gracious  inspirations  em- 
bodied in  Part  HI;  and  to  all  others  who  both 
knowingly  and  unknowingly  have  contributed 
to  the  author's  enlightenment  and  unfoldment. 


M 


PART  I 

PSYCHOLOGY 


ELEMENTARY 
PRINCIPLES 

In  opening  a  subject,  it  is  good  to  present 
immediately  the  gist  of  one's  argument, 
and  to  set  forth  clearly  its  basic  prin- 
ciples. That  the  mind  rules  the  body, 
and  that  much  sickness  is  really  mental,  is 
occasionally  recognized,  but  exactly  how  and 
why  this  is  has  never  been  fully  explained. 

We  here  propose  to  show  that  mental 
and  emotional  tension,  being  pre-eminently 
dynamic,  is  correspondingly  responsible  for 
all  manifestation  and  the  modifications  ob- 
served. In  other  words,  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings are  the  unceasing  forces  which  move  and 
fashion  our  otherwise  inert  bodies  and  are 
even  responsible  for  their  creation. 

Energy 

Our  first  realization  should  be  that  of  the 
universal  basis  of  all  manifest  existence  in 
energy,  that  living,  indestructible  yet  con- 
vertible urging  vibration,  which  is  constantly 
accumulating  within  us,  to  be  from  time  to 
time  discharged  in  physical,  mental  or  emo- 
tional activity.  We  here  give  the  full  com- 
prehensive   meaning   to    the   word    energy, 

[3] 


The  Gist  of  It 

whose  electronic  condensations  compose  the 
atoms  of  physical  matter,  and  which  mani- 
fests otherwise  in  the  well-known  forms  of 
light,  heat,  electricity,  motion,  growth,  etc., 
then  mind,  and  supremely  as  spirit. 

As  living  beings  we  are  constantly  assimi- 
lating and  generating  energy,  out  of  its 
sources  about  us  and  within  ourselves,  where 
it  accumulates.  As  human  beings  we  express 
this  energy  in  physical  and  mental  action,  or 
function.  Hence,  rather  than  mere  bodies,  we 
are  in  reality  active,  sentient  organizations  of 
energy,  for  whom  normality  requires  a  sound, 
well-nourished  physical  structure,  in  progres- 
sing phases  of  adequate  coherent  function, 
varied  by  rest  and  recreation,  and  actuated  by 
innate  motives  in  harmonious  adjustment.  In 
other  words,  a  state  of  appropriate  healthy 
balance  between  accumulation  and  disposition 
of  energy  is  essential  to  well-being. 

Mind  and  Body 

Psychology  signifies  the  manner  in  which 
energy  operates  mentally,  and  to  successfully 
cope  with  disease  and  disorder,  we  must  be- 
come acquainted  with  certain  psychological 
mechanisms,  such  as  suggestion,  distraction, 
repression  and  the  like,  and  realize  the  abso- 
lute unity  of  the  organism  as  a  whole.  The 
mind  and  the  body  are  not  separate  things, 

[4] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

but  are  merely  differing  aspects  of  the  one 
unified  self,  changes  in  one  of  whose  aspects 
are  reflected  in  all  the  others.  For  example, 
the  emotions  of  fear  and  anxiety  paralyze 
and  contract  the  mind.  This  condition  is  then 
conducted  to  all  parts  of  the  body,  and  con- 
traction becomes  the  order  in  every  cell  and 
structure.  Because  of  differing  personal  sus- 
ceptibility this  contraction  when  persistent 
may  clutch  the  bronchial  tubes  as  asthma,  the 
muscles  of  the  back  with  spinal  pain  or  bony 
displacement,  the  walls  of  the  stomach,  caus- 
ing dyspepsia,  the  tissues  of  the  kidney,  pro- 
ducing Bright 's  disease,  or  it  may  warp  the 
general  state  of  being  with  some  nervous 
affection,  or  even  mental  derangement.  On 
the  other  hand,  real  disorder  in  a  bodily  part 
sends  its  distress  to  the  mind,  whose  conse- 
quent strain  of  suffering  and  fear  can  keep 
returning  to  the  part,  even  when  it  might 
recover,  and  form  a  vicious  circle  of  chronic 
disability  which  persists  indefinitely  until  the 
mental  strain  is  removed. 

This  intimate  association  between  mind  and 
body  is  well  attested  by  such  obvious  illustra- 
tions as  the  reddening  of  the  face  in  shame  or 
embarrassment,  disturbance  of  heart  action 
by  fear,  nausea  produced  by  a  repulsive 
thought,  obstructed  liver  and  constipation 
from    anxious    constraint,    excessive   kidney 

[5] 


The  Gist  of  It 

action  from  feverish  excitement,  and  numer- 
ous others,  to  say  nothing  of  the  correspond- 
ing recovery  when  the  distressing  emotion 
fades.  Such  purely  psychological  elements 
as  emotions,  then,  by  their  definite  influence  on 
the  responsive  tissues,  are  seen  to  determine 
physical  conditions,  but  to  fully  explain  their 
responsibility  for  continuous  disease  and  dis- 
order, additional  factors  must  be  considered. 


[6] 


PSYCHOLOGICAL 
MECHANISMS 

All  that  we  know  or  react  to  comes  to  us  in 
the  form  of  impression  or  sensation,  hence 
this  is  the  first  phase  of  any  experience. 
Detection  or  recognition  follows  next,  accom- 
panied by  association  to  previous  experiences, 
and  this  is  called  perception.  At  the  same 
time  there  begins  reaction,  with  little  or  much 
emotion,  according  to  the  intensity  of  the  ex- 
perience, and  the  coming  into  an  adjustment 
or  attitude.  From  this  point  any  further 
progress,  or  the  direction  of  it,  is  purely  a 
matter  of  choice.  We  do  something  about  the 
experience  or  not,  according  to  our  motives 
and  impulses.  These  are  the  simple  elements, 
but  there  are  also  more  intricate  mechanisms. 

Suggestion 

The  first  of  these  is  suggestion,  or  that 
process  by  which  an  idea  is  implanted  with 
sufficient  power  to  insure  response.  Sug- 
gestion may  be  intensified  by  repetition,  and 
by  reinforcement  from  previous  associations 
or  other  sources  of  similar  suggestion.  It  is 
a  law  to  which  all  are  amenable,  and  is  most 

[7] 


The  Gist  of  It 

effective  when  arising  from  or  attended  by 
physical  sensation,  which  means  that  when 
we  feel  pain  we  are  caused  to  believe  some- 
thing wrong,  which  is  true,  but  suggestion 
may  tend  to  exaggerate  the  sensation  and 
give  it  undue  significance.  Indigestion,  for 
example,  causes  excess  of  gas  in  the  stomach, 
which  by  pressure  on  the  heart  can  disturb  its 
action  and  give  some  of  the  sensations  and 
thereby  the  suggestion  of  heart  disease. 
Treatment  directed  to  the  heart  would  then 
but  reinforce  this  suggestion,  as  would  also 
the  repetition  of  the  fancied  heart  symptoms 
which  are  resulting  solely  from  the  neglected 
stomach. 

Distraction 

Suggestion  is  further  favored  by  distrac- 
tion, which  may  exist  as  a  disturbed,  preoc- 
cupied or  resistless  mental  state,  induced  by 
some  undercurrent  of  feeling,  an  injury,  a 
shock,  or  perhaps  by  deliberate  mental  fix- 
ation, which  narrows  or  absorbs  the  power  to 
reason  clearly,  and  permits  the  adverse  sug- 
gestions to  take  deeper  root.  If  the  subject 
having  indigestion,  for  instance,  were  under 
great  nervous  strain  from  worry,  his  mind 
so  distracted  would  not  be  free  to  discount 
the  sensations  of  heart  disturbance  as  merely 
gas  in  the  stomach,  and  the  more  adverse 

[8] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

suggestion  of  heart  disease  would  then  be 
absorbed  and  manifested. 


Defense 

Moreover,  a  mechanism  of  defense  may 
come  in  play,  leading  one,  when  hard  pressed, 
to  accept  a  suggestion  just  as  it  comes,  as  a 
way  of  escape  from  some  obligation  or  pre- 
dicament, and  perhaps  unconsciously,  but 
when  these  mechanisms  operate,  the  resulting 
disorder  is  liable  to  settle  down  into  the 
inertia  of  habit,  for  with  a  line  of  lessened 
resistance  established,  the  original  sensations 
will  doubtless  recur,  and  continue  to  hammer 
their  ominous  suggestions  into  both  mind  and 
body,  which  in  the  manner  shown  may  take 
them  up  and  express  them,  spurious  though 
they  are.  It  might  even  be  inferred  that  the 
indigestion  which  arose  in  the  first  place  was 
merely  due  to  worry,  was  perhaps  aggravated 
by  some  dietary  indiscretion,  and  would  have 
been  quite  transitory  except  for  the  other  fac- 
tors. A  sufferer  from  heart  disease  is  thereby 
released  from  much,  and  we  can  all  remember 
feeling  sick  to  stay  home  from  school.  So 
countless  other  examples  affecting  any  com- 
bination of  organs,  and  with  varying  under- 
currents of  mixed  motives,  will  readily  suggest 
themselves. 

[9] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Eepkession" 

A  further  determining  mechanism  is  that  of 
repression,  which  again  brings  out  the  impor- 
tance of  knowing  these  things  in  terms  of 
energy.  And  since  additional  factors  are  also 
involved,  we  can  get  a  better  grasp  of  these 
problems  by  studying  a  psychological  unit,  for 
instance  a  single  experience,  such  as  a  simple 
contact,  like  that  of  the  palm  of  my  hand 
touching  the  top  of  my  desk.  This  experience 
consists  of  the  motion  of  the  hand  descending 
in  the  air  and  then  stopped  by  the  desk,  with 
the  thus  deflected  energy  transmitted  to  my 
tissues  and  thence  to  my  consciousness  as  an 
impulse  or  sensation.  Should  this  contact  be 
made  with  violence  or  a  slam,  I  would  receive 
a  surcharge  of  energy  or  feeling,  and  be 
thrown  out  of  equilibrium  into  a  state  of 
tension,  attended  by  tingling  nerves  and  gen- 
eral strain,  which  would  last  some  time  unless 
I  went  through  reactions  to  discharge  this 
surcharge,  such  as  rubbing  my  hand  or  utter- 
ing some  expletive  with  feeling,  when  the  ten- 
sion would  relax  and  relief  at  once  be  felt. 
But  for  some  motive  I  might  choose  to  repress 
all  reaction  and  maintain  perfect  composure, 
when,  if  there  were  many  repetitions,  a  limit 
to  undisturbed  endurance  would  be  reached, 
and  the  strain  would  be  reflected  in  my  gen- 

[10] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

oral  condition.  In  other  words,  the  energy  of 
the  blow  is  received  by  my  organism  as  an 
impact  or  charge  which  accumulates  on  repe- 
tition, and  if  I  refuse  to  discharge  the  tension 
by  reacting,  puts  me  to  great  pains  and 
eventually  manifest  effort  to  contain  it. 

The  Complex 

Every  experience  means  the  delivery  into 
one  of  a  definite  volume  of  energy,  and  the 
same  law  holds  in  our  more  complex  and 
highly  organized  experiences.  The  shock  of  a 
true  bereavement,  for  instance,  lays  upon  us 
a  weight  of  crushing  force,  which  holds  and 
wears  us  down,  and  distorts  our  normal  state 
of  being,  just  so  long  as  we  retain  it  by  re- 
pressing all  emotion,  and  begins  to  lighten 
and  release  us  in  proportion  as  we  vent  our 
feelings,  and  permit  the  reactions  which 
restore  equilibrium.  Such  a  volume  of  re- 
pressed, held-in  feeling  constitutes  a  complex, 
or  mental  sore,  whose  feeling  tone,  undis- 
charged and  racking  the  system,  makes  for 
distraction  and  exposes  us  to  a  train  of  path- 
ological events  similar  to  the  one  outlined, 
whereas  reacting  appropriately,  in  response 
to  the  urgent  pressure,  we  retain  no  vulner- 
able spot,  but  return  to  normal  balance,  and 
even  acquire  increased  endurance  for  succeed- 
ing stresses  which  are  bound  to  come.    Fur- 

[11] 


The  Gist  op  It 

thermore,  this  same  principle  obtains  in  the 
case  of  agreeable  emotions,  for  mirth  de- 
mands its  outlet  in  laughing  just  as  much  as 
sorrow  in  weeping. 

Conveksion 

It  might  be  objected  here  that  it  is  not  well 
to  keep  dwelling  upon  one's  troubles,  which 
of  course  is  true,  for  it  merely  aggravates 
them,  and  leads  to  the  disintegrating  habit  of 
self-pity.  Though  if  a  particular  train  of 
lament  or  complaint  is  being  carried  beyond 
due  limits,  it  is  because  it  is  used  as  a  partial 
or  substitute  vent  for  deeper  trouble  that  is 
covered  over,  and  therefore  all  the  more  in 
need  of  discovering  and  discharging.  For  the 
feeling  that  is  fermenting  in  these  submerged 
mental  complexes  reacts  on  the  bodily  tissues 
and  undergoes  conversion  into  physical  symp- 
toms, so  that  obstinate  physical  nausea,  for 
instance,  can  be  due  entirely  to  a  suppressed 
mental  repugnance,  and  will  disappear  com- 
pletely upon  discharge  of  its  underlying 
complex.  Hence  conversion  is  another  impor- 
tant psychopathological  mechanism  and  sug- 
gestive of  the  requirements  for  correction. 

Summaby 

But  before  passing  on  we  should  recapit- 
ulate,   beginning  with   constant,   inexorable 

[12] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

energy,  indestructible  and  self-perpetuating 
but  capable  of  infinite  transmutation.  Our 
first  awareness  of  it  is  as  sensation,  then  per- 
ception, then  reactive  emotion  and  discharge, 
with  return  to  equilibrium ;  or  repressive  ten- 
sion and  conversion  into  symptoms,  which 
may  be  intensified  and  prolonged  by  sugges- 
tion, favored  by  distraction  and  defense,  and 
then  merge  into  the  inertia  of  habit.  Four- 
fifths  of  all  human  disability,  that  is  to  say, 
all  nervous,  mental,  functional  and  unduly 
chronic  disorders,  as  well  as  many  continuous 
organic  diseases,  are  constructed  out  of  just 
these  mechanisms,  and  nothing  else.  But 
since  they  ordinarily  develop  unconsciously, 
or  subconsciously,  out  of  reach  of  effective 
adjustment  by  their  victims,  we  should  now 
consider  the  subconscious.  In  fact,  were  these 
processes  not  subconscious,  in  the  narrow 
sense,  there  could  be  no  conversion  into  symp- 
toms, for  consciousness  provides  a  vent,  by 
means  of  analysis  and  adjustment,  which  the 
individual  subconscious  does  not,  and  there- 
fore the  symptoms  appear  automatically,  be- 
cause their  component  energies  remain  undis- 
charged and  undisposed. 


[13] 


THE  SUBCONSCIOUS 

The  subconscious  is  not  another  mysterious 
or  separate  mind,  but  is  rather  that  major 
portion  of  the  entire  self  which  at  a  given 
moment  is  out  of  the  immediate  focus  of  con- 
scious attention,  but  which  normally  is  explor- 
able  by  it,  and  wherein  are  enacted  all  those 
usually  unnoted,  automatic  or  reflex  activities, 
such  as  breathing,  heart-beat,  habitual  move- 
ments, etc.,  our  more  delicate  reactions  to 
situations  and  people,  the  reception  of  those 
subtle  impressions  which  make  up  the  phe- 
nomena of  telepathy,  premonition  and  the 
like,  and  the  insidious  suggestions  of  disease, 
in  fact  all  the  processes  of  being  except  those 
with  which  one  happens  to  be  consciously  con- 
cerned at  the  time.  These  subconscious  ac- 
tivities which  comprehend  all  the  forces  of  the 
individual,  and  are  made  up  of  the  entire  mass 
of  impressions  and  reactions  undergone  by 
the  organism  as  a  whole,  are  therefore  infi- 
nitely more  powerful  than  those  actuated  by 
mere  reason,  which  can  only  use  what  may  be 
put  into  articulate  formula.  It  can  also  be 
inferred  what  power  of  resistance  is  here 
possessed,  as  well  as  tenacity,  which  accounts 

[15] 


The  Gist  of  It 

for  the  stubborn  character  of  disorders  having 
their  basis  in  this  field. 

Dissociation 

The  ability  to  direct  attention  is  largely 
under  control  of  the  will,  and  a  normal  indi- 
vidual is  able  to  focus  his  consciousness  on 
any  portion  of  himself  or  his  environment, 
and  to  know  it  as  it  actually  is.  One  may  also, 
if  so  disposed,  withdraw  consciousness  from 
a  given  area,  and  ignore  the  reactions  taking 
place  in  it,  when  they  will  nevertheless  take 
place  subconsciously.  But  since  the  entire 
self  is  in  relation  with  itself,  and  with  the 
whole  environment,  and  interreactions  con- 
tinually occur,  this  partial  oblivion  can  only 
be  achieved  by  forcibly  narrowing  the  range 
of  consciousness  so  as  to  exclude  the  repug- 
nant portion,  which  then  becomes  as  though 
divided  off,  at  the  expense  of  the  whole,  for 
the  reception  and  carrying  on  of  the  repudi- 
ated impressions  and  reactions.  If  these  im- 
pressions and  suppressed  reactions  persist, 
more  and  more  of  the  self  will  be  appropriated 
for  their  requirements,  until  this  split-off  por- 
tion becomes  strong  enough  to  pursue  an 
almost  independent  existence,  with  division 
of  the  self  in  a  manner  which  manifests  as 
dual  or  dissociated  personality.  Persons  so 
affected  hear  voices  when  none  speak,  some 

[16] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

reaction  in  the  secondary  self  making  itself 
mentally  audible  as  a  message  or  command 
from  without,  and  inducing  various  conflicts, 
with  aberration  of  conduct,  or  literal  unbal- 
ancing of  mind. 

A  grievous  disillusionment,  for  instance, 
might  be  resisted  and  rejected  with  such 
depth  of  protest  as  to  result  in  such  dissocia- 
tion, for  assuming  that  the  grounds  for  it  are 
genuine,  they  will  affect  the  subject  accord- 
ingly, even  if  only  subconsciously,  eventually 
divide  the  self  as  shown  above,  and  if  per- 
sistent induce  some  outcry,  in  the  form  of 
visions,  warnings  or  commands,  which  result 
in  acts  that  seem  preposterous  or  insane.  It 
becomes  quite  obvious  how  readily  a  mind  at 
such  disadvantage  would  drift  along  help- 
lessly under  the  influence  of  the  mechanisms 
already  traced  and  of  others  still  more  intri- 
cate, conjuring  up  delusions,  illusions  and  hal- 
lucinations, whirled  along  by  obsessions  and 
victimized  by  fears. 

But  all  such  states  are  unsubstantial,  inher- 
ently artificial,  without  endurance  of  their 
own,  and  would  tend  to  fade  and  clear  up  if 
it  were  not  that  they  are  being  renewed  from 
a  still  deeper  and  more  enduring  source. 
What  then  keeps  them  going?  The  answer  is 
dynamic  personal  motive,  instinct,  or  desire, 
pluralized  into  numerous  motives,  which  are 

[17] 


The  Gist  of  It 

the  real,  inexhaustible  springs  of  our  actions, 
though  often  disguised  and  not  always  in 
harmony. 


[18] 


MOTIVES 

The  abnormalities  under  consideration,  as 
previously  stated,  constitute  nothing  more 
than  a  straining  compromise  of  conflicting 
personal  considerations  or  motives.  Or 
stated  more  technically,  they  are  but  the  out- 
ward resultants  of  contending,  interior  and 
strictly  psychological  forces  operating  in 
terms  of  the  mechanisms  described.  We  give 
to  these  forces  the  name  of  motives,  although 
in  the  absolute  they  are  resolved  into  a  single 
ongoing  one,  the  urge  of  being,  which,  how- 
ever, manifests  and  best  lends  itself  to 
analysis  as  a  trinity,  comprising  the  basic 
motives,  instincts  or  urges,  of  self-preserva- 
tion, self -projection,  and  self-respect.  These 
three  compelling  motives,  with  their  ex- 
tended corollaries,  determine  all  that  we  do 
and  are  on  earth,  sick  or  well,  so  it  will  be 
profitable  now  to  consider  them. 

Self-Pbeseevation 

The  first  includes  not  only  the  instinct  of 
self-preservation  or  desire  for  existence,  but 
the  wish  to  live  well,  in  the  best  possible  cir- 
cumstances, and  to  secure  some  of  the  good 
things  of  life. 

[19] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Self-Pbojection 

The  second,  self -projection,  embraces  the 
love  motive,  sex  urge,  and  social  instinct, 
whereby  we  mate,  expand  our  feelings,  and 
seek  to  enjoy  and  engage  with  our  fellow- 
beings.  This  also  includes  the  love  of  liberty, 
and  the  urge  toward  self-expression  in  all 
desired  forms. 

Self-Eespect 

The  third  motive,  that  of  self-respect,  com- 
prehends honor,  decency,  virtue,  loyalty, 
pride,  striving  for  an  ideal,  living  up  to  one's 
principles,  and  desiring  to  stand  well. 

Conflict 

A  grand  galaxy,  we  may  well  feel,  but  how 
they  can  contend  with  one  another.  The  pos- 
sibilities of  discord  in  one  lacking  wisdom  are 
obvious.  Passion  periodically  besieges  virtue, 
and  honor  has  always  to  fight  greed  of  gain, 
though  the  conflicts  at  fault  are  usually  far 
more  subtle,  and  with  the  opposing  pull  or 
push  of  each  element  manifest  only  in  the 
twist  of  disorder.  There  are  also  inhibiting 
or  constraining  factors,  what  might  be  called 
negative  motives  which  act  as  brakes  upon 
our  positive  impulses,  namely,  considerations 
of  prudence,  shame  or  fear,  though  ultimate 

[20] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

analysis  could  easily  identify  these  with  the 
preceding,  together  with  opposing  desire  or 
not  to  do,  not  to  be,  not  to  have  what  is. 

Out  of  these  constant,  often  conflicting,  or 
thwarted  motives,  and  the  contrary  emotions 
they  then  engender,  surges  the  energy  which 
maintains  the  morbid  mechanisms  and  per- 
petuates disorder,  that  is,  until  the  motives 
are  harmonized,  or  intelligently  directed, 
when  order,  well-being  and  progress  super- 
vene. One  marrying  merely  for  advantage 
subserves  but  a  single  instinct,  that  of  acqui- 
sition or  pride.  The  others  atrophy,  ferment 
or  putrefy,  with  results  to  correspond,  unless 
the  art  of  wholesome  transmutation  is  ac- 
quired, and  toward  which  the  ways  of  attain- 
ment will  be  manifest  as  we  proceed. 

Motives  get  their  cast  in  the  evolutional 
period  of  childhood,  when  impressions  are 
made  and  reactions  take  place  in  virgin  soil, 
and  the  primitive  impulses,  and  stresses  of 
restraint,  reacting  upon  the  particular  tem- 
perament, determine  the  manner  of  adjust- 
ment to  all  that  is  to  follow.  At  this  time 
predilections  are  acquired  and  standards 
absorbed  which  unconsciously,  and  later  for- 
gotten, color  and  condition  our  actions  and 
reactions  all  through  life.  And  since  life  itself 
is  so  complex,  and  loaded  with  rigorous 
buffets,  it  is  little  wonder  that  some  of  us 

[21] 


The  Gist  of  It 

follow  the  line  of  least  resistance  and  com- 
promise on  disease. 

But  it  is  not  scientific  to  generalize,  for 
every  case  is  distinctly  individual  and  the 
problem  is  different  for  each  one,  although 
the  abnormal  conditions  resulting  usually  fall 
into  one  of  the  three  main  groups  of  physical, 
nervous  or  mental  disorder  and  perhaps 
should  now  be  catalogued  in  that  way. 


[22] 


PATHOLOGY 

In  the  physical  category,  upon  the  basis 
outlined,  we  may  have  affections  of  any  organ 
or  part  whatsoever,  mental  and  emotional 
tension,  perhaps  unrealized,  fastening  upon 
some  otherwise  transitory  ailment,  and  with 
the  automatic  response  of  the  tissues  involved, 
built  up  unconsciously  into  any  form  of  dis- 
ordered function,  even  to  the  point  of  actual 
lesion  or  disease. 

Physical 

By  way  of  making  a  list,  we  could  mention 
various  forms  of  headache  and  neuralgia, 
eyestrain,  catarrhal  conditions,  affections  of 
the  nose,  ears  and  throat,  bronchial  and  pul- 
monary complaints,  heart  and  circulatory  dis- 
turbances, stomach  and  digestive  difficulties, 
liver  obstinacies,  intestinal  disorders,  both 
active  and  passive,  affections  of  the  genito- 
urinary system,  many  paralytic  and  spas- 
modic difficulties,  including  disturbances  of 
gait,  of  muscular  control  and  of  the  joints, 
as  well  as  disorders  of  sensation  and  skin 
affections,  to  say  nothing  of  those  vague,  un- 
usual, unclassified  ailments  of  which  there 
seems  to  be  only  one  of  its  kind.    Diabetes  is 

[23] 


The  Gist  of  It 

often  established  upon  such  a  combination  of 
psychological  mechanisms,  as  well  as  many 
forms  of  rheumatism.  The  cases  also  of 
cancer  and  tumor  have  such  a  foundation, 
built  up  from  some  chance  blow  or  injury, 
and  tuberculosis  is  now  known  to  be  a  psy- 
chological disease. 

Nekvous 

In  the  category  of  nervous  disorders  we 
place  those  ailments  in  which,  although  there 
is  no  structural  change  in  any  bodily  part, 
there  yet  exists  most  trying  disability.  A  list 
would  include  neurasthenia  or  nerve  weak- 
ness, though  the  nerves  themselves  are  not 
affected,  nervous  depression  and  nervous 
irritability,  anxiety,  phobias  or  fears,  extreme 
sensitiveness,  painful  self-consciousness,  ina- 
bility to  make  decisions,  diminished  will-power 
or  power  of  concentration,  defective  memory, 
insomnia,  somnambulism,  persistent  bad 
dreams,  emotional  instability,  hysteria,  stam- 
mering, obsession  or  being  impelled  to  some 
irrational  action,  kleptomania  for  example, 
and  other  peculiar  tendencies,  curious  habits, 
dissociation  of  personality  with  its  especial 
phenomena  of  lapse  or  loss  of  the  self,  as  well 
as  many  unique  indescribable  states  attended 
by  sensations  of  pressing,  bursting,  burning, 
tingling,  dizziness,  chilliness  or  tremor. 

[24] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Perverse 

There  is  also  another  group  of  derange- 
ments which  fall  short  of  absolute  mental 
aberration,  and  wherein  the  subject  seems 
otherwise  quite  normal,  yet  is  none  the  less 
dominated  by  extremely  cunning,  cruel  or 
criminal  tendency,  alcoholic  or  drug  addiction, 
or  perversion  of  the  sex  instinct.  Such  condi- 
tions exist  invariably  because  of  the  stresses 
indicated,  except  when  they  are  the  result  of 
definite  deficiency. 

Mental 

Under  the  grouping  of  true  mental  aberra- 
tion, commonly  called  insanity,  or  technically 
psychosis,  we  place  here  only  the  psycholog- 
ical forms,  and  omit  those  due  to  congenital 
defect  or  actual  damage  to  the  brain.  Those 
considered  will  then  constitute  the  purely 
functional  or  psychopathological  varieties, 
occurring  in  persons  physically  normal  yet 
mentally  deranged  in  their  adjustment  to  life, 
and  often  requiring  temporary  or  permanent 
sequestration.  A  significant  way  in  which  to 
classify  the  four  salient  types  of  mental  devi- 
ation would  be  in  accordance  with  the  follow- 
ing extremes:  those  in  which  the  mind  runs 
too  fast  and  feverishly,  those  in  which  it  is 

[25] 


The  Gist  of  It 

chilled  and  slow,  those  in  which  its  radius  is 
too  small  or  circumscribed,  and  those  in  which 
it  is  too  expanded  or  inflated.  Psychiatry 
likewise  denominates  four  main  varieties — 
mania  or  excessive  mental  excitation,  often 
showing  outbursts  of  violence ;  melancholia  or 
extreme  mental  depression,  sometimes  at- 
tended by  self-destroying  or  mutilating  ten- 
dencies; and  dementia  or  marked  reduction 
in  mental  responsiveness.  Of  these  the  first 
two  are  prone  to  alternate  in  the  same  indi- 
vidual, and  all  are  usually  attended  by  delu- 
sions, illusions  and  hallucinations.  There  is 
also  the  large  paranoid  group,  characterized 
by  special  delusions  of  self-aggrandizement 
and  persecution,  in  connection  with  which 
there  is  much  suspicion  and  vindictiveness. 
It  should  also  be  remarked  that  these  states 
do  not  always  exist  in  distinct  and  separate 
type,  but  more  often  as  mixtures  or  blends, 
shading  into  one  another.  In  fact,  this  exterior 
differentiation  is  merely  the  result  of  pre- 
vious efforts  to  classify  and  if  possible  assign 
a  physical  cause  to  each  one,  whereas  more 
recent  comprehension  of  the  conflicts  among 
motives,  emotions  and  other  psychic  mechan- 
isms makes  their  nature  more  truly  under- 
standable. 


[26] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Origin 

In  order  to  account  for  them  fully,  how- 
ever, we  must  revert  back  even  as  far  as 
infancy.  The  baby  is  a  complete  egotist, 
moved  for  the  first  months  of  his  life  only  by 
impulses  connected  with  his  own  objective 
needs  and  pleasure,  which  for  the  first  year 
is  as  it  should  be,  when  there  should  begin  to 
be  inculcated  reasonable  discipline  and  regard 
for  other  considerations.  But  he  may  have 
too  indulgent  proprietors,  or  seem  so  self- 
willed  that  one  hesitates  to  cross  him,  when 
his  ego  will  flourish  unduly  and  fill  his  entire 
horizon.  Instead  of  expanding  nobly  and 
beautifully,  his  nature  will  then  grow  inward, 
preventing  appreciation  of  his  universe,  and 
causing  him  to  hold  himself  excessively  supe- 
rior, with  his  conceptions  the  only  realities. 
When  this  is  carried  to  irrational  extremes, 
with  attempt  to  live  it  literally,  we  have  to 
call  it  insanity  and  put  him  away  to  save  him 
from  himself.  These  aberrations  may  also  be 
induced  in  an  opposite  manner,  by  excessive 
bullying,  suppression  or  neglect,  which  like- 
wise cause  the  nature  to  strike  in,  engendering 
feelings  of  self-pity  and  self-love,  which  also 
exaggerate  the  objective  ego,  and  invite  a 
similar  train  of  results. 


[27] 


The  Gist  of  It 

commentaey 

It  is  evident  how  readily  minds  so  handi- 
capped would  come  under  the  influence  of  the 
mechanisms  traced,  and  of  others  more  intri- 
cate which  give  the  derangement  its  partic- 
ular character.  But  again  we  must  say  that 
even  these  conditions  are  merely  artificial, 
without  endurance  of  their  own,  and  with  the 
urging,  discordant  motives  harmonized  or 
composed  could  fade  and  clear  up,  which  they 
frequently  do.  Eecovery  often  takes  place, 
both  spontaneously  and  by  treatment,  and  a 
great  many  more  could  be  either  saved  or 
restored  if  these  things  were  more  widely 
understood.  Just  why  one  person  manifests 
physical,  another  nervous,  or  another  mental 
disorder,  is  a  matter  of  individual  circum- 
stances and  temperament,  but  motives  and 
mechanisms  constitute  the  fabric,  with  acci- 
dent or  destiny  presenting  the  peg  to  hang  it 
on,  until  a  finer,  truer  comprehension  comes 
to  dissipate  it.  Failing  which  the  thing  be- 
comes a  habit,  a  working  compromise,  for  one 
at  bay  among  contending  motives.  It  becomes 
an  outlet  for  other  feelings  kept  under  pres- 
sure, justifies  complaint  and  evasion,  and 
warrants  sympathy,  which  we  all  have  a  weak- 
ness for,  and  may  even  give  purpose  to  other- 
wise pureposeless  lives.    In  fact,  the  ailment 

[28] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

may  become  a  pet  and  be  cherished,  coddled 
or  reveled  in  accordingly,  with  corresponding 
reluctance  to  relinquish  it  and  get  well.  Para- 
dox perhaps,  yet  none  the  less  true,  for  the 
fact  remains  one  can  get  well  just  as  soon  as 
the  desire  to  is  single  and  unmixed. 


[29] 


THE  PSYCHOLOGY 

OF  SEX 

Before  proceeding  further,  however,  it  will 
be  expedient  at  this  point  to  introduce  some 
paragraphs  on  sex,  a  subject  encumbered  with 
much  misinformation  and  morbid  feeling, 
and  therefore  pertinent  here.  Sex,  or  rather 
sexuality,  is  a  salient  element  in  the  instinct 
of  self-projection,  already  considered,  is  a 
form  of  energy  convertible  into  other  mani- 
festations, normal  or  abnormal,  and  is  now 
known  to  be  a  frequent  factor  in  the  problem 
we  have  in  hand. 

Definition 

Beginning  with  an  attempt  at  definition, 
this  manifestation  could  be  designated  as  an 
impulse,  an  instinct,  a  function,  an  urge,  a 
ferment,  an  energy,  a  strength,  a  weakness,  a 
motive,  a  blessing  or  a  curse,  but  however 
denounced,  the  fact  remains  that  sex  is,  and 
though  we  cannot  precisely  define  it,  any  more 
than  we  can  any  other  elementary  force,  a 
study  of  its  manifestations  will  accrue  to  our 
greater  efficiency  in  advancing  human  welfare. 
Also  it  is  exclusively  neither  a  sin  nor  a  sac- 

[31] 


The  Gist  of  It 

rament,  though  often  held  as  both  in  the  same 
mould  of  mind. 

In  the  first  place  it  is  a  faculty  of  all  life, 
and  is  incorporated  in  all  lively  things  as  one 
of  the  channels  through  which  energy  is  to 
find  expression,  but  like  all  other  functions  it 
has  to  go  through  its  process  of  evolution 
before  arriving  at  maturity.  It  is  the  last 
of  the  elementary  functions  to  mature,  is  the 
most  protracted  in  its  development,  is  the  one 
most  ignored,  can  make  the  most  trouble, 
and  for  this  and  other  reasons  is  naturally 
hedged  in  by  the  greatest  amount  of  inhibition 
and  restraint. 

Dangers 

For  this  last  there  are  extremely  good  and 
sufficient  reasons.  Sexual  indiscretion  may 
blast  the  ultimate  victim  with  illegitimacy,  or 
worse,  the  immediate  victim  with  disease  or 
disgrace,  or  both,  and  the  subject  likewise,  to- 
gether with  the  risk  of  demoralization  or 
degeneracy.  So  for  these  most  cogent  reasons 
the  instinctive  attitude  of  people  in  general 
is  properly  prudent,  conservative,  and  even 
apprehensive,  and  is  thus  communicated,  even 
without  words,  to  growing  children.  There 
are  also  other  grounds  for  instinctive  aver- 
sion in  the  fact  that  the  expression  of  sex  is 
in  parts  of  the  body  inherently  offensive  and 

[32] 


Fob  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

giving  most  shame,  and  that  in  this  field  we 
are  the  most  vulnerable  to  ridicule  and  re- 
proach. No  one  is  at  ease  when  thus  indicted, 
nor  invulnerable  to  such  a  blow,  nor  is  anyone 
truly  entitled  to  use  such  a  weapon.  But,  as 
previously  stated,  the  question  of  sex  is  a 
factor  in  our  problem,  so  let  us  not  be  squeam- 
ish here,  for  whether  suppressed  or  not,  the 
instinct  or  urge  is  omnipresent,  and  grows 
and  develops  in  accordance  with  the  vitality 
of  the  individual,  and  sometimes  out  of  pro- 
portion to  it.  Also,  although  individuals  vary, 
there  is  no  inherent  difference  between  the 
sexes  in  this  matter. 

Evolution 

Since  the  function  is  not  matured  until  the 
age  of  twelve  or  fifteen,  it  must  necessarily 
pass  through  stages  of  development  before 
this.  Hence  it  is  seen  to  manifest  imperfectly 
at  earlier  periods,  awkwardly  and  incoher- 
ently, like  any  other  undeveloped  function.  In 
the  preadolescent  child  its  expression  may  be 
negative  or  quite  indiscriminate,  both  as  re- 
gards self  and  others,  groping  and  blundering 
like  the  first  experiments  in  locomotion,  and 
in  reason  no  more  reprehensible.  Sex-con- 
sciousness and  sex-curiosity,  though  perhaps 
not  identified  as  such,  may  even  appear  at  the 
unbelievable  age  of  eighteen  months.    There 

[33] 


The  Gist  of  It 

then  follow  innocent  or  shamefaced  attempts 
to  gratify  the  curiosity,  with  experiments  of 
various  indiscriminate  kinds,  all  of  which  can 
take  place  quite  spontaneously,  for  the  instinct 
is  auto-genetic,  grows  of  itself,  and  seduction 
is  not  essential.  These  experiments  and  in- 
vestigations may  be  personal,  with  others, 
either  sex,  old  or  young,  or  even  with  other 
creatures,  for  sex  is  universal  and  may  make 
any  appeal,  especially  at  this  period  of  great 
susceptibility  and  imperfect  restraint. 

Yet,  speaking  without  prejudice,  such  spon- 
taneous manifestations  are  not  necessarily 
reprehensible,  in  their  occasional  occurrence 
entirely  harmless,  and  on  no  account  to  be 
dealt  with  by  drastic  intimidation  or  shaming, 
which  may  have  an  opposite  effect  from  the 
one  intended.  Masturbation,  for  instance, 
although  of  course  not  to  be  encouraged,  is 
practically  universal  at  some  period  of  life, 
and  if  seriously  detrimental  nobody  would  be 
sane  or  sound.  We  place  the  emphasis  in  this 
way  because  of  widespread  morbid  miscon- 
ceptions on  the  subject,  and  of  course  do  not 
here  refer  to  out-and-out  incorrigibles.  All 
rightly  constituted  children  have  sufficient 
self-respect  of  their  own  to  restrain  them, 
without  officious  assistance,  and  besides,  the 
process  is  by  nature  self-limited,  and  not  in 
the  class  of  drug  habits  and  others  where  some 

[34] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

alien  intoxicant  is  taken  into  the  system  there 
to  produce  its  own  unnatural  and  consuming 
appetite. 

Normality 

The  normal  child  growing  right  along,  men- 
tally, morally  and  physically,  passes  through 
these  evolutionary  stages,  pausing  periodic- 
ally as  in  all  growth,  but  with  the  instinct 
steadily  focalizing,  and  when  adolescence  be- 
comes maturity  presumably  focused,  and  pro- 
jected exclusively  and  with  proper  restraint 
toward  the  complementary  sex.  This  would  be 
the  normal  and  desirable,  which,  if  it  does  not 
supervene,  has  been  deflected  or  exaggerated 
into  some  other  manifestation.  Also  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  growth  itself  is  a  proc- 
ess of  condensation  of  absorbed  energies,  and 
that  when  the  unit's  limit  in  bulk  is  reached, 
or  when  one  gets  one's  growth,  the  energies 
which  continue  to  be  absorbed,  perhaps  in 
even  greater  volume,  must  be  afforded  other 
channels  of  expression,  one  of  which  is  in  fact 
the  reproductive  function,  the  faculty  of  dis- 
continuous growth  or  the  launching  of  other 
units.  Nor,  even  in  nature,  is  the  ardent  blos- 
soming arbitrarily  limited  to  the  quantity  of 
fruit  which  shall  be  gathered. 


[35] 


The  Gist  of  It 


Bisexuality 


In  actual  nature  there  is  no  such  thing  as 
pure  distinct  type  of  anything,  and  this 
applies  also  to  sex.  In  early  gestation  the 
embryo  is  indeterminate,  with  structures  ap- 
pearing which  may  develop  into  either  sex- 
apparatus,  or  both.  After  a  few  weeks,  how- 
ever, one  progresses  while  the  other  falls  back, 
so  that  the  child  is  finally  born  male  or  female, 
but  nevertheless  retains  in  its  body,  all 
through  life,  vestiges  of  organs  which,  if  de- 
veloped, would  constitute  those  of  the  oppo- 
site sex.  The  male  breast  is  an  obvious 
example,  of  which  there  is  a  complete  set  of 
others,  with  analogs  in  the  female.  The  sec- 
ondary sex  features  are  still  better  known, 
such  as  high  voice,  wide  hips  or  rounded  body 
in  some  men,  and  big  bones  or  angular  form 
in  some  women.  Hence  anatomically  we  are 
a  blend,  potentially  either,  with  some  even 
manifesting  both  characteristics. 

Temperamentally  the  shading  is  also  ob- 
served— vigorous,  aggressive  women,  and 
tender,  gentle  men,  to  say  nothing  of  mannish 
women  and  effeminate  men,  with  constitution 
and  tendencies  to  correspond.  Some  men  even 
manifest  a  menstrual  period,  with  or  without 
sanguineous  effusion  from  some  membrane, 
as  well  as  change  of  life.    But  these  traits  do 

[36] 


Fob  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

riot  necessarily  match  each  other,  for  many 
lovely  women  are  found  in  unlovely  bodies, 
while  a  splendid  masculine  body  does  not 
always  imply  a  manly  man. 

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 

And  now  we  can  conceive  of  deviations  in 
the  sphere  of  the  sex  instinct  itself.  Many 
are  more  or  less  naturally  inverted,  or  mod- 
ified in  this  respect,  with  genuinely  homo- 
sexual or  perverted  proclivities,  and  many 
may  easily  be  influenced  that  way,  in  the  del- 
icate, unformed  period  of  childhood,  which 
brings  us  down  to  the  second  factor  in  this 
problem,  namely  the  psychology  of  sex,  with- 
in and  without.  The  function  is  very,  very 
far  from  being  a  mere  physical  or  so-called 
animal  one,  for  it  is  most  intimately  perme- 
ated, and  influenced  by  ideas,  and  by  the 
psychological  elements  we  have  previously 
discussed,  such  as  suggestion,  association, 
dissociation  and  others. 

The  child  does  not  grow  up  in  solitude  and 
separate,  but  is  hemmed  in  and  environed, 
physically,  mentally  and  spiritually,  by  fam- 
ily, associates  and  strangers,  all  imbued  with 
varying  attitudes  in  this  matter,  which  they 
may  be  only  too  ready  to  impart  to  him. 
Hence  his  own  development  is  modified  or 
distorted  by  this  outside  psychology,  as  well 

[37] 


The  Gist  of  It 

as  by  that  originating  within  him.  Shame, 
fear  or  abuse  may  cause  certain  propensities 
to  strike  in  and  take  deep  subconscious  root, 
which  if  unmolested  would  have  dwindled  and 
disappeared;  or  adventitiously  suggested 
charm  may  cause  pernicious  practices  to  flour- 
ish, which  otherwise  would  never  have  mani- 
fested. That  forbidden  fruit  seems  most  desir- 
able is  always  true,  and  since  in  this  sphere 
we  are  more  sensitive  than  in  any,  too  much 
ofliciousness  may  over-emphasize  some  phase, 
and  give  it  too  much  interest  with  results  to 
be  regretted.  Some  sexual  manifestations  are 
instinctively  regarded  as  beyond  the  limit, 
namely  those  that  are  incestuous,  homosexual, 
with  animals,  or  otherwise  grossly  perverted, 
and  these  if  persistent  place  the  subject  at 
serious  disadvantage  with  society,  or  if  arti- 
ficially repressed  make  for  intolerable  distrac- 
tion, which  exposes  the  victim  to  the  various 
pathological  mechanisms  detailed. 

BaTION  ALIZ  ATIO  ST 

The  problem  is  always  peculiarly  individual, 
calls  for  the  utmost  discretion  and  tact,  if  not 
hands  off,  while  mere  morbid  dread  is  never 
in  order.  Eespectful  confidence,  with  enlight- 
enment where  needed,  is  the  best  generaliza- 
tion on  the  management  of  children.  We  have 
here  to  deal  with  an  energy,  generically  named 

[38] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

libido,  which  if  arbitrarily  throttled  at  one 
point  is  liable  to  find  exit  at  another  less 
desirable,  so  that  the  proper  course  is  to  in- 
spire transformation  into  other  activities  of 
true  worth  and  genuine  personal  appeal.  This 
process,  known  as  transmutation,  or  sublima- 
tion, is  quite  possible,  for  in  it  the  purely 
sexual  functions  become  dormant  or  latent, 
just  as  the  woman's  breast  is  dormant  when 
not  engaged  in  lactation.  To  be  truly  success- 
ful, however,  there  must  be  a  genuine  inspira- 
tion or  motive  which  literally  displaces  all 
else  and  prompts  to  some  definitely  cherished 
activity  which  gives  full  and  satisfying  expres- 
sion to  the  dynamic  libido  involved,  for  sex 
experience  in  reality  is  intended  and  desirable, 
for  the  further  development  of  the  individual 
and  the  service  of  the  race,  so  that  the  reasons 
for  sublimation,  if  it  is  to  be  successful,  must 
be  innate  and  vital.  Mere  arbitrary  repres- 
sion results  in  blighting  and  degeneracy, 
though  many  choose  this  negative  course, 
rather  than  incur  the  unwelcome  risks  and 
responsibilities  of  actual  function.  It  should 
also  be  understood  that  sexual  indulgences  of 
whatever  kind  are  not  in  themselves  a  cause 
of  insanity  or  any  other  form  of  disorder, 
though  inordinate  self-reproach  for  them  may 
induce  distraction  like  any  other  complex, 
with  symptoms  in  consequence,  not,  be  it  re- 

[39] 


The  Gist  of  It 

membered,  from  the  specific  physical  acts,  as 
is  commonly  supposed,  but  through  distorted, 
stressful  or  painful  feelings  concerning  them. 
The  gross  sexuality,  for  example,  which  at- 
tends some  forms  of  mental  defect  is  an 
accompanying  result  but  not  necessarily  a 
cause  of  this  condition. 

Summary 

Summing  it  all  up,  this  is  a  delicate,  sen- 
sitive, active  living  field,  of  intensest  potency, 
vet  hedged  about  with  all  sorts  of  dangers 
and  morbid  ideas  which  can  complicate  life 
for  anyone.  It  has  already  been  indicated 
that  sexually  we  are  more  susceptible,  vul- 
nerable and  intense  than  in  any  other  way,  so 
it  is  easy  to  see  how  suggestion,  distraction, 
repression  and  dissociation  could  subcon- 
sciously operate  here  and  constitute  this  the 
source  whence  disorder  is  perpetuated,  es- 
pecially if  the  earliest  manifestations  came  to 
be  considered  particularly  abnormal  or  hei- 
nous, or  perhaps  persistent,  and  to  call  for 
repudiation  so  extreme  as  to  amount  to  self- 
immolation.  The  wisest  procedure  would  be 
rational  disposition  of  the  unwelcome  impulse, 
which  in  so  many  cases  is  possible,  for  these 
repressed,  perverted  impulses,  when  not  dis- 
posed of,  are  frequently  responsible  for  many 
abnormal  states  and  much  erratic  conduct, 

[40] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

not,  be  it  repeated,  on  account  of  any  direct 
effect  from  the  physical  acts,  but  by  reason 
of  the  morbid  attitude  concerning  them.  Nor 
does  everything  continue  always  serene,  even 
under  presumably  ideal  conditions,  for  there 
are  various  fluctuations,  conflicts  and  distrac- 
tions which  are  bound  to  intrude,  however  one 
is  situated,  so  doubtless  it  will  be  enlightening 
at  this  point  to  insert  some  remarks  on  the 
psychology  of  the  sexes. 


[41] 


THE  PSYCHOLOGY 
OF  THE  SEXES 

Truly  and  tersely  stated,  the  psychology  of 
the  sexes  is  instantly  revealed  by  contempla- 
tion of  their  respective  prototypes,  the  egg 
and  the  sperm.  Considering  the  egg,  which  is 
supremely  female,  we  find  it  essentially  single, 
static,  nutrient,  fecund,  contoured,  enclosing, 
vegetative,  recurrent,  subjective,  sufficient. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  sperm  or  male  element 
is  multiple,  motile,  galvanic,  linear,  lancinate, 
delving,  cleaving,  perforating,  animal,  exigent, 
objective,  spent.  In  a  word  femaleness  is 
yo(l)ked,  while  maleness  is  disseminated. 
And  here  we  see  that  nothing  in  the  universe 
is  fortuitous,  not  even  names  or  words.  In 
the  interrelationships  between  the  two  we  find 
that  there  are  both  reciprocating  needs  and 
reciprocal  detriments.  The  sperm  needs  the 
egg  to  renew  its  existence,  the  egg  needs  the 
sperm  to  live.  Yet  the  single  sperm  is  lost 
when  encompassed  by  the  egg  and  the  egg 
begins  to  disrupt  when  impregnated.  Hence 
the  yearning  and  the  spurning  in  the  more 
evolved  forms,  man  and  woman.  But  salva- 
tion and  immortality  are  achieved  in  the 
product  of  the  union,  which  partakes  of  both. 

[43] 


The  Gist  op  It 

Childken 

Taking  into  account  the  observations  pre- 
viously made  on  bisexuality,  and  realizing  the 
disproportional  combination  of  each  of  these 
elements  in  any  individual,  we  can  see  that 
mere  marrying  is  very,  very  far  from  being  a 
conclusively  permanent  solution.  The  stresses 
of  sentiment  which  are  apt  to  supervene  may 
find  outlet  as  previously  indicated,  and  some- 
times are  visited  upon  the  fruits  of  the  union, 
both  ways.  By  this  we  mean  that  an 
inordinate  though  subconscious  attachment 
or  antipathy  may  sometimes  develop  between 
parent  and  child  with  pernicious  effect  upon 
the  psychology  of  the  latter.  Children  should 
be  weaned,  progressively  but  lovingly,  to  a 
larger  and  larger  life,  not  stultified  by  con- 
stricting ties.  For  the  stresses  and  cleavages 
prevailing  in  this  most  vital  relationship,  that 
of  a  created  thing  with  its  matrix,  are  respon- 
sible intrinsically  for  much  of  the  life  that 
follows,  be  it  the  pursuit  of  a  profession,  the 
choice  of  a  life  partner,  the  form  of  religion, 
or  even  the  kind  of  government  one  is  content 
to  live  under. 

"We  here  speak  objectively  as  before,  so 
should  now  begin  to  prepare  the  way  for  a 
different  and  finer  comprehension. 


[44] 


THE  PERSONALITY 

But  before  proceeding  to  the  exposition  of 
good  health  and  healing  which  now  succeeds, 
let  us  revert  for  a  moment  to  our  presentation 
of  basic  human  motives  as  outlined  on  pre- 
vious pages,  and  here  discuss  the  graphic 
representation  of  them  which  follows,  ventur- 
ing thereby  to  submit  what  presumes  to  be 
a  complete  analytical  diagram  of  human  per- 
sonality, in  terms  of  its  actuating  principles, 
trends  and  fruits,  and  amplified  to  show  its 
unnecessary  distortions. 

Teiunity 

Up  out  of  the  eternal  triune  urge,  to  be,  to 
do  and  to  know,  come  matter,  energy  and  con- 
sciousness, organized  individually  into  body, 
function  and  mind,  for  a  life  that  is  then 
predestined  by  its  three  basic  instincts  which 
conserve  existence,  insure  activity  and  sustain 
confidence,  to  traverse  its  span  toward 
growth. 

Disproportion 

But  here,  objectively,  there  may  be  dispro- 
portion and  distress.  The  instinct  of  self- 
preservation  may  dwindle  into  self-neglect, 

[45] 


The  Gist  of  It 

the  prompting  to  self -projection  degenerate 
into  self-indulgence,  and  the  consideration  of 
self-respect  disintegrate  into  self-pity.  On 
the  other  hand,  too,  the  first  can  harden  into 
selfishness,  the  second  be  inflamed  to  mere 
self-aggrandizement,  and  the  third  become 
swollen  into  self-conceit. 

Distress 

And  finally  three  forms  of  anguish  super- 
vene when  the  welfare  of  any  of  our  triplicity 
is  in  jeopardy.  Self-preservation  quakes 
when  dropped  into  a  pocket  of  fear,  self- 
projection  may  agonize  in  a  baffled  conflict  of 
suspense,  while  self-respect  will  stifle  if  sunk 
in  an  abysm  of  shame.  These  three,  shame, 
fear  and  suspense  are  the  cardinal  human  tor- 
ments and  the  last  is  the  most  unendurable. 
Correspondingly,  in  terms  of  our  previous 
psychology,  there  may  be  some  complex  to 
confess,  conflict  to  resolve,  or  confusion  to 
calm,  in  order  to  restore  integrity. 

The  Soul 

But  has  the  page  only  one  side?  Let  us 
turn  it  over  and  see.  Supplementing  and 
transcending  urge,  we  find  that  there  is  Aspi- 
ration, consecrating  self-preservation  is  Self- 
Sacrifice,  balancing  self-projection  there  is 
Self-Control,  ennobling  self-respect  is  Self- 

[46] 


■? 


G 

R 
O 
W 
T 
H 


8  & 

Confidence  -i^1 


a  SELF-RESPECT 

$?  Mind 

Consciousness 
(Shame) 


vtf^  Function 

u&  Energy 

*e  (Suspense) 


1 


^ 


6$? 


& 


<y- 


Activity  ^  /6& 

SELF-PROJECTION 


*? 


Existence  $& 

A        SELF-PRESERVATION         & 

Jr 

gST  Body 

*e  Matter 

(Fear) 

f 

URGE 


3? 


[47] 


p 
I 

R 
I 
T 
U 
A 
L 
I 
T 
Y 

Peace 

SELF-SURRENDER 

s 
e 
1 
f 

Power 

SELF-CONTROL 

1 
e 
s 
s 

Service 

SELF-SACRIFICE 

n 
e 

s 
s 


ASPIRATION 

[48] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Surrender.  Self-sacrifice  yields  the  joy  of 
Service,  self-control  holds  the  might  of  Power, 
while  self -surrender  knows  the  bliss  of  Peace, 
which  together  build,  by  renunciation,  the  very 
acme  of  vouchsafed  attainment,  and  dissipate 
all  phantasms. 

Spirit 

And  now  WHERE  is  this  human  page  with 
its  two  contrasting  sides,  that  is  you,  or  that 
is  me?  *  *  *  It  rests  all  the  while  in 
the  unseen,  all-cherishing  security  of  the 
everlasting  arms,  so  in  truth  there  are  no 
phantasms. 

Yet  we  must  not  forget  that  in  the  term  of 
this  objective  existence  there  are  both  sides 
to  our  page,  so  let  us  show  its  measure  of 
deference  to  each. 


[49] 


PART  II 

GOOD  HEALTH  AND 
HEALING 


CONSIDERATIONS 
PHYSICAL 

A  s  stated  at  the  outset,  well-being  consists 
f\  in  nothing  short  of  a  sound,  well 
/-%  co-ordinated,  well-nourished  organ- 
■*■  ■*■  ism,  in  progressing  phases  of  appro- 
priate purposeful  function,  prompted  by  truly 
inspired  motives  in  mutually  balanced  adjust- 
ment, and  regularly  reinvigorated  by  rest  and 
recreation.    In  short,  complete  living. 

And  since  we  have  found  that  the  physical 
cannot  be  just  taken  for  granted,  we  will  open 
our  discussion  by  obtruding  some  observa- 
tions on  it. 

Am 

If  you  were  a  fish,,  would  you  presume  to 
live  in  negligent  or  disdaining  disregard  of 
your  ocean?  No,  you  would  not.  You  would 
appreciate  your  life's  medium,  and  negotiate 
it  to  its  utmost  resource.  Yet  many  humans 
do  presume  to  disregard  their  life's  medium, 
the  circumambient  atmosphere,  and  therefore 
need  reminding  of  its  all-surpassing  merits. 
Air  is  our  real  and  utterly  indispensable,  all- 
sustaining  element,  fresh  and  ever  circulating 

[53] 


The  Gist  op  It 

from  right  outdoors,  day  or  night,  moist  or 
dry,  the  real  reinvigorant,  exhilarant,  de- 
odorant and  disinfectant  par  excellence.  So 
breathe — and  breathe  and  breathe — and  then 
keep  right  on  breathing,  fresh,  pure  air,  the 
very  inspiring  breath  of  the  spirit,  from  out 
of  which  is  all  creation,  both  manifest  and 
coming,  so  know  this  when  you  breathe  and 
revitalize  your  soul.  Adopt  some  simple 
though  systematic  breathing  exercises  suit- 
able for  yourself,  nor  forget  from  time  to 
time  exaggerated  exhalation  which  rids  the 
lungs  of  stagnant  air  pockets. 

Water 

Then  water,  nature's  other  element,  pure, 
fresh,  virgin  life,  which  composes  and  con- 
tents each  living  thing.  You  cannot  use  too 
much,  inwardly  or  outwardly,  though  all  too 
easily  you  may  neglect  this  virtue  too.  Not 
that  I  fancy  that  any  of  my  probable  readers 
may  be  uncleanly,  but  many  may  have  for- 
gotten the  merits  of  the  inward  sluice.  So 
then  let  us  drink,  even  as  we  breathe,  deep, 
drenching  draughts  of  this  pure  water  of  the 
spirit  which  both  purges  and  restores.  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  urge  a  half  glass  every  half 
hour,  or  its  equivalent  if  at  longer  intervals, 
and  as  much  as  you  like  at  meals.  The  tem- 
perature may  be  optional,  but  the  quality 

[54] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

should  be  intelligently  determined.  We  will 
not  here  presume  to  dictate  the  technique  of 
bathing,  assuming  that  to  be  individually 
adequate,  and  with  some  possibly  going  to 
even  unwise  extremes.  Only  cultivate  the 
instinctive  sense  of  cleanliness,  avoiding  con- 
taminating contacts,  as  with  money  or  other 
promiscuous  things,  and  cleansing  at  once  if 
such  contact  is  made. 

Best 

And  now  rest.  Stop,  cease,  quit,  whatever 
you  are  doing,  feeling  or  thinking,  every  night 
for  all  night,  and  also  for  a  good  interval  each 
day.  Real  rest,  especially  if  sleeping,  is 
nature's  supreme  restorer  and  prefers  to 
further  benefits  soon  to  be  presented.  The 
human  race  is  in  a  state  of  continuing,  chronic 
exhaustion,  with  all  of  its  accompanying 
irritability,  from  overconcern  and  engage- 
ment with  objective  things,  persons  and  prin- 
ciples. The  remedy  and  the  regeneration  are 
only  but  surely  to  be  found  in  disengagement 
from  the  projected,  and  withdrawal  into  the 
realm  of  the  serene  subjective  soul. 

Food 

The  question  of  food  should  here  be  dis- 
missable  in  a  few  words.  Most  everybody 
knows  enough  to  eat,  but  there  are  very  few 

[55] 


The  Gist  op  It 

who  know  enough  not  to,  for  it  is  literally  and 
disgustingly  true  that  we  dig  our  graves  with 
our  teeth.  Although  by  nature  omniverous, 
and  equipped  to  thrive  vigorously  on  a  fully 
diversified  dietary  of  average  prime  quality, 
yet  arterial  old  age  can  be  postponed,  and  all 
uric  acid  and  cognate  ailments  dispersed,  by 
adopting  a  diet  containing  no  nitrogenous 
animal  food  whose  end-products  are  their 
cause.  For  the  rest,  use  your  own  good  judg- 
ment, as  confirmed  by  your  experience,  only 
making  sure  to  eat  every  day  of  something 
that  is  fresh  and  living — that  is  to  say,  not 
killed  by  cooking  or  protracted  keeping — and 
thus  renew  your  own  life  from  the  truly  living 
sources.  Also  join  Mr.  Horace  Fletcher,  who 
brings  a  true  message,  and  appreciate  the 
beneficence  of  time  in  this  as  in  all  other  good. 

Exercise 

And  since  you  have  doubtless  eaten,  you 
must  exercise.  Even  though  your  regular 
work  may  be  physically  laborious,  one  might 
even  say  especially  in  that  case,  adopt,  em- 
ploy, and  now  and  then  interrupt,  some  alter- 
nating systems  of  rhythmical  exercise  that  are 
simple,  free  movements,  performed  without 
straining  effort,  and  including  especially  some 
that  bow  and  open  out  the  neck  and  spine, 
such  as  dropping  fully  forward  the  head  and 

[56] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

bending  to  its  extreme  the  entire  back.  More- 
over, these  exercises  should  be  taken  spon- 
taneously and  in  a  spirit  of  exhilaration,  for 
if  purely  perfunctory  they  are  practically 
worthless.  Always  remember  that  strength 
of  any  kind  is  gained  by  drawing  on  it,  not 
merely  by  waiting  for  it. 

Sunshine  i 

Shelter 

Clothing 

We  will  take  for  granted  that  you  appre- 
ciate sunlight,  and  avail  yourself  of  all  its 
benefits  when  accessible.  It  has  all  the 
virtues  of  air,  as  above  depicted,  as  well  as 
others  in  addition.  Unfortunately,  however, 
our  sedentary  need  for  necessary  shelter 
usually  results  in  the  construction  of  the 
same  without  adequate  ingress  provided  for 
either  air  or  sunshine.  The  very  erection  of 
a  roof  puts  those  under  it  in  shadow,  and  the 
essentially  civilized  need  for  keeping  interiors 
warmed  too  often  precludes  always  fresh  air. 
But  ingenuity  is  a  psychological  attribute,  so 
let  us  begin  to  use  it  here  to  circumvent  these 
deprivations.  We  will  not  presume  to  dictate 
taste  in  clothing,  which,  thank  fortune,  is  and 
should  be  various,  but  simply  suggest  apparel 
suitable  to  seasons  and  types,  and  discount 
freaks  and  extremes  of  either  kind,  not  for- 

[57] 


The  Gist  of  It 

getting  that  the  physical  onvelope  is  truly 
worthy  of  its  just  esteem,  and  that  the  inner 
genius  finds  a  finer,  truer  expression  when 
vibrant  through  its  own  concordant  color  and 
component  tone. 

Above  have  been  briefly  set  forth  the  car- 
dinal physical  factors  for  good  health,  and 
it  should  be  superfluous  to  say  that  healing 
itself  is  facilitated  by  paying  due  deference 
to  them,  but  the  latter  will  be  treated  of 
presently. 


[58] 


SUPERSTITIONS 

So  now  for  good  health  psychological.  And 
here,  alas,  may  be  a  garden  sorely  in  need  of 
weeding,  even  before  good  seed  can  find  any 
room  whatever  in  which  to  root. 

To  begin  with,  there  are  certain  general 
misconceptions,  or  pathological  superstitions, 
which  when  entertained  may  render  one  need- 
lessly dubious  as  to  one's  health,  or,  through 
morbid  contemplation  of  them,  operate  as 
deterrents  to  recovery  from  disease,  so  let  us 
dispose  of  these  at  the  outset  and  thus  be  rid 
of  the  worthless  weeds. 

Hekedity 

The  first  one  is  that  concerning  the  alleged 
dreadfulness  of  heredity,  which  is  such  an 
unnecessarily  terrifying  thought  to  so  many 
people.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  heredity  is  a 
practically  negligible  factor  in  disease,  for 
syphilis  is  the  one  and  only  disease  taint  that 
can  be  inherited,  and  even  its  effects  can  be 
mitigated.  But,  of  course,  there  is  a  principle 
of  heredity  by  which  we  derive  likenesses, 
disposition,  constitution  and  temperament, 
and  if  our  forebears  reacted  to  conditions  in 
the  way  which  would  naturally  result  in  dis- 

[59] 


The  Gist  of  It 

ease,  we,  having  a  similar  constitution  and 
temperament,  will,  if  we  react  in  the  same 
unenlightened  ways,  probably  manifest  simi- 
lar disorder.  But  the  heredity,  so  far  as  the 
disorder  is  concerned,  is  merely  apparent, 
not  real,  and  constitutes  no  obstacle  to  recov- 
ery when  the  light  begins  to  dawn.  Insanity, 
cancer,  tuberculosis  and  all  the  others  are 
then  mere  vanished  shadows. 

Prenatalism 

Prenatal  influence  is  another  factor  to 
which  a  great  deal  of  undue  weight  is  given. 
Although  it  sometimes  manifests  in  quite 
startling  ways,  this  happens  far  less  fre- 
quently than  is  usually  supposed,  and 
abnormal  conditions  presumed  to  be  perma- 
nently fixed  in  prenatalism  have  repeatedly 
been  corrected. 

Disease 

No  disease  should  be  regarded  as  a  dis- 
tinct entity  in  itself,  for  all  disease  is  simply 
a  reaction  to,  or  compromise  of,  opposing 
forces,  and  has  no  specific  endurance  of  its 
own.  Acute  diseases  are  merely  nature's 
reaction  to  contamination,  and  signify  active 
vitality  making  its  usually  winning  fight, 
while  chronic  or  functional  disorder  is  an 
unnecessary  compromise  of  the  conflict. 

[60] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Wearing  Out 

There  is  no  irreplaceable  wearing  out  of 
tissue  when  subjected  to  the  strains  consid- 
ered. There  may  be  temporary  reduction  in 
vitality,  but  when  respite  is  afforded  and  the 
right  chord  is  struck  the  response  will  be 
vigorous  and  better  than  ever. 

Duration 

The  duration  of  an  ailment  bears  but  a 
secondary  relation  to  the  time  required  for 
recovery.  Persons  sick  for  twenty  years  have 
been  known  to  get  well  in  twenty  minutes' 
when  the  right  thing  was  done,  and  all  real 
healing  is  rapidly  progressive. 

Change  of  Life 

The  menopause,  or  change  of  life,  need 
not  be  a  critical  time  for  anyone.  Certain 
gratuitous  predispositions  sometimes  emerge 
at  this  period,  but  it  does  not  prevent  correc- 
tion, and  in  no  case  need  any  trouble  be 
anticipated. 

Sex  Incidents 

Spontaneous  sexual  experience  which  is 
that,  as  such,  and  not  outrage  or  physical 
damage,  is  incapable  of  producing  disability. 
Even  the  so-called   sexual  perversions   are 

[61] 


The  Gist  of  It 

essentially  harmless  from  the  physical  stand- 
point, although  all  such  expressions  may  be 
a  waste  of  potentialities  which  could  be 
diverted  to  more  desirable  attainment. 

Nervous 

Nervous  disorders  have  nothing  to  do  with 
the  nerves  themselves,  which  in  such  cases  are 
always  normal.  The  words  nervous  and  ner- 
vousness are  used  to  describe  the  general 
condition  of  the  person  affected,  which  has 
been  explained  on  preceding  pages,  but  there 
is  no  change  or  deterioration  in  the  actual 
nerves.  Nor  do  the  mere  nervous  affections 
ever  merge  into  insanity. 


[62] 


14  RECOMMENDATIONS 

At  this  point,  believing  them  of  definite 
value  for  both  getting  and  keeping  well, 
the  writer  ventures  the  following  general 
recommendations : 

1.  Care  for  your  physical  body  in  all  re- 
spects— air,  water,  rest,  food,  exercise,  sun- 
shine, shelter,  clothing  and  functions — and  do 
not  endure  detrimental  conditions  when  you 
do  not  have  to. 

2.  Do  not  practice  persistent  self-repres- 
sion. All  energy  is  claiming  constructive  out- 
let, and  we  thrive  only  through  expression. 

3.  Do  not  remain  indefinitely  in  a  state  of 
indecision  or  suspense.  Come  to  a  decision 
and  end  your  suspense  just  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible. You  might  better  decide  wrong,  and 
profit  by  the  experience,  than  remain  sub- 
merged in  a  state  of  indecision.  All  life  is  a 
succession  of  experiences.  All  experience  is 
a  reception  of  energy.  All  energy  is  the  raw 
material  for  anything  you  choose.  So  let  us 
remember  this  in  each  and  every  strain,  and 
instead  of  disintegrating  take  a  sound  temper. 

4.  Do  not  enter  into  any  permanent  com- 

[63] 


The  Gist  of  It 

promise  —  business,  matrimonial,  family, 
partnership — with  yourself  or  anyone  else.  A 
temporary  compromise  is  sometimes  expedi- 
ent, but  permanent  ones  never.  Their  strain 
accumulates  and  eventually  undermines,  so 
be  redeemed. 

5.  Bealize  things  for  just  what  they  are. 
Eealization  need  not  imply  specific  action,  for 
attitude  and  conduct  are  two  different  things, 
and  you  can  realize  a  great  deal  without  tak- 
ing any  action,  but  an  artificial  attitude  will 
eventually  break  you.  The  realization  will 
not  prove  so  bad  anyway. 

6.  Learn  to  do  things  easily,  the  un- 
strained, effortless  subconscious  way,  and 
keep  yourself  well  nourished  mentally. 

7.  Be  honest  with  yourself  and  put  your 
house  in  order,  but  do  not  take  things  too  seri- 
ously, even  yourself. 

8.  Do  not  hold  too  closely  the  family  asso- 
ciations and  ties,  which  is  sometimes  done  to 
a  degree  that  is  merely  maudlin,  and  amounts 
to  but  a  pooling  of  weaknesses.  To  such  I 
say,  you  do  but  wallow  in  a  litter ;  there  is  still 
greater,  nobler  living,  which  is  less  personal 
and  promiscuous,  and  gives  the  soul  its  room. 

9.  Do  not  feel  too  much  responsibility  for 
[64] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

others.  They  can  only  develop  by  living  their 
own  lives,  and  the  same  is  true  for  you.  So 
live  a  clean,  often-refreshed  and  unself- 
fettered  life,  kept  clear  of  accumulating 
debris. 

10.  Nor  let  us  defame,  nor  despise,  nor 
seek  to  dominate.  Damn  and  devil  are  of  the 
same  evil  ilk  which  the  time  has  come  to 
discard. 

11.  Disabuse  your  mind  of  all  its  limiting, 
outworn  preconceptions.  It  is  a  new  age  that 
is  dawning  anyway. 

12.  Be  yourself.  You  are  God's  beloved 
intention. 

Do  your  best,  that  you  may  be  justified. 

Think  high,  that  you  may  think  higher. 

Pray,  for  there  is  God,  all-knowing,  all- 
loving  and  all-able,  and  only  waiting  for 
you  to  care. 

13.  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom.  This  say- 
ing is  ancient  but  unspeakably  true. 

14.  Trust. 


[65] 


HEALLNG  METHODS 

Realizing  now  more  fully  the  real  nature  of 
disease  and  disorder,  which  so  often  is  merely 
a  compromise  of  morbid  suggestion,  repressed 
emotion,  ignorance  and  fear,  exerting  un- 
favorable effects  on  mind  and  body,  we  are 
better  equipped  for  solution  of  the  problem 
and  restoration  to  normal. 

The  intrinsic  tendency  of  all  life  is  to  renew 
itself  and  continue  living,  and  therefore  the 
faculty  of  healing  or  recovering  permeates  all 
living  things.  But  there  may  be  indolent 
inertia  or  disfavoring  obstacles  to  healing, 
when  we  work  to  provoke  it  by  reaction,  or 
to  remove  the  obstacles  and  render  conditions 
favorable.  And  since  the  measures  exploited 
are  so  numerous,  and  become  not  infrequently 
an  element  in  the  disorder,  it  seems  proper  at 
this  point  to  pause  and  review  them. 

Surgery 

Beginning  with  the  most  radical,  there  is 
surgery,  applicable  exclusively  to  straight 
physical  problems,  and  urgent  and  indispen- 
sable in  conditions  of  hemorrhage,  open 
wounds,  pus,  intrusion  of  foreign  bodies  and 
correction  of  certain  injuries  and  deformities, 

[67] 


The  Gist  of  It 

but  seldom  advisable  or  beneficial  further. 
The  practice  of  surgery  has  long  been  con- 
ducted as  well  as  is  humanly  possible,  so  that 
true  progress  would  now  consist  in  making 
it  unnecessary,  and  the  same  applies  to 
dentistry. 

Medicine 

Medicine  comes  next  and  has  its  place.  The 
value  of  agencies  for  the  urgent  relief  of  pain, 
emergency  stimulation,  purgation,  as  anti- 
dotes to  poisons  and  for  other  temporary 
alleviations  is  obvious,  but  beyond  this  their 
usefulness  is  decidedly  slight  and  often  repre- 
hensible, though  the  suggestive  effect  is  occa- 
sionally remedial.  The  same  is  true  of  the 
various  light,  electricity  and  other  elementary 
applications,  while  few  of  the  serums  fulfill 
their  promise.  But  the  premature  repudia- 
tion of  beneficent  medicinal  creation  is  carry- 
ing things  to  fanatical  extremes,  for  the 
plainly  indicated  use  of  medicine  implies  no 
inherent  recreance  and  may  even  be  a  re- 
sponding to  the  infinite  intention. 

Manipulation 

The  manipulative  methods  of  osteopathy 
and  chiropractic  are  quite  rational.  To  the 
average  patient  they  are  without  risk  of  harm, 
and   by    relaxing  or   adjusting   the   neuro- 

[68] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

muscular  tension  which  exists  in  all  disorders 
as  the  result  of  straining  attitude,  definite 
relief  may  be  afforded  which  can  result  in 
ultimate  recovery.  This  is  also  the  virtue  of 
the  hydropathic  and  heat  methods. 

Suggestion 

Suggestion  and  auto-suggestion  are  at  work 
everlastingly  anyway,  and  since  we  are  prac- 
tically free  to  choose,  we  might  better  select 
suggestions  which  contain  the  living  truth 
that  elevates,  rather  than  the  adverse  destruc- 
tive sort.  Literature  and  modern  philosophy 
in  general,  to  say  nothing  of  special  New 
Thought  and  Christian  Science  utterances, 
fairly  teem  with  concepts  of  merit,  nourish- 
ment and  uplift,  freely  and  graciously  prof- 
fered, and  of  which  it  were  certainly  wise  to 
avail  oneself. 

Metaphysics 

Metaphysical  and  faith  healing  are  realities 
many,  many  times,  and  it  is  not  scientific  to 
ignore  them,  nor  those  certain  rare  souls, 
often  humble  and  untutored,  who  seem  to  be 
natural  healers.  For  it  is  entirely  possible, 
to  say  nothing  of  being  desirable,  for  some 
effective  concept  or  feeling,  from  whatever 
source,  to  permeate  the  whole  subconscious, 

[69] 


The  Gist  of  It 

and   there   resolve   or  neutralize  the  basic 
strains  responsible  for  the  disorder. 

In  any  case  the  end  in  view  is  healthy, 
wholesome  reconstruction  on  a  sound,  on- 
going basis,  so  we  are  in  favor  of  all  that  do 
good  without  harm. 


[70] 


HEALING 

But  any  or  all  of  the  crystallized  systems 
may  fail,  even  in  curable  cases,  for  the  prac- 
tice of  healing  is  an  art  and  can  never  be  re- 
duced to  a  science,  any  more  than  painting  a 
picture,  bringing  up  children  or  writing  a 
psalm,  though  some  scientific  knowledge  is 
involved,  which  it  behooves  the  artist  to 
possess.  The  purpose  of  healing  is  restora- 
tion to  normal,  a  state  of  unselfconscious 
well-being,  which  is  different  for  every  in- 
dividual, not  stereotyped,  or  a  pattern  for  all 
to  reflect  alike;  and  the  principles  of  healing 
can  never  be  comprehended  in  terms  of  any 
healing  method,  because  they  embrace  rela- 
tionships which  are  universal,  and  transcend 
any  mere  system  of  control. 

It  is,  of  course,  presumed  that  all  of  the 
physical  requirements  are  being  met,  for 
these  are  well  known,  and  there  is  no  excuse 
for  their  omission,  when  available.  But  we 
now  know  how  important  the  psychological 
factors  are,  and  can  understand  how  these 
obstructions  may  prove  more  baffling. 

Self-Help 

Yet  if  you  would  like  to  help  yourself,  go 
back  to  the  beginning  and  read  this  treatise  all 

[71] 


The  Gist  op  It 

over  again,  even  between  the  lines,  and  in 
doing  so  sit  down  by  yourself  and  ponder 
where  the  applications  might  be,  though  you 
may  not  see  them  the  first  time.  It  would  not 
be  any  superficial,  self-evident  matter  that 
could  get  you  into  such  predicaments,  so  you 
must  introspect  deeply,  exploring,  illumi- 
nating and  ventilating  the  remote  corners  of 
your  subconscious.  Then  deal  with  what  you 
find  as  recommended,  boldly  and  straight- 
forwardly, respecting  only  truth. 

Assistance 

But,  as  stated  before,  the  problem  is  always 
an  individual  one,  and  perhaps  mere  gener- 
alities will  not  suffice,  and  the  harassed,  des- 
perate patient  requires  personal  assistance. 

Successful,  permanent  curing  will  then 
involve  three  things:  a  frank  unburdening 
analysis  of  the  exact  nature  of  the  disorder 
in  terms  of  its  own  specific  cause;  genuine, 
satisfying  enlightenment  on  all  troublesome 
points;  and  wholesome  reconstruction  on  a 
sound,  true  basis.  Stated  in  another  way, 
we  first  should  have  completely  established 
precisely  what  we  are  dealing  with  in  order 
to  dispose  of  it  utterly,  then  correct  all  morbid 
misconceptions,  provide  discharge  for  all 
pathological  tension,  resolve  all  inner  con- 
flicts and  induce  readjustment  on  genuine, 

[72] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

healthy  lines.  This  is  the  gist  of  the  entire 
matter,  but  as  between  patient  and  healer 
there  are  certain  special  conditions  essential 
to  success. 

Eequirements 

In  the  first  place  there  must  be  what  is 
called  rapport,  that  is  to  say,  a  reasonable 
degree  of  mutual  confidence,  trust,  sympathy 
or  willingness  to  come  together  on  the  case. 
Entirely  candid,  unreserved  co-operation  is 
the  second  requirement ;  and  finally  there  must 
take  place  that  subtle,  indefinable,  subjective 
but  conclusive  process,  tentatively  called 
1 '  transference, ' '  which  cannot  be  coerced,  but 
which  follows  spontaneously  when  the  other 
conditions  are  fulfilled,  and  by  which  the  real 
cure  is  made ;  and  for  the  sake  of  which,  also, 
no  healer  should  officiously  obtrude  his  minis- 
trations, but  rather  should  wait  until  appealed 
to  for  relief,  as  did  the  Master,  who  also  said, 
1 '  Go,  and  tell  no  man. '  * 

Obstacles 

But  again,  even  with  the  best  intentions,  on 
the  part  of  both  healer  and  patient,  there  may 
be  obstacles  in  the  way.  First  of  all  there 
exists  in  everyone  a  natural  resistance  to 
intrusion  or  correction,  which  may  lead  him 
to  reject  or  repudiate  all  the  better  concep- 

[73] 


The  Gist  op  It 

tions  that  might  cause  him  to  relinquish  his 
own,  or  expose  their  errors.  Besides  that,  the 
disorder  is  really  a  compromise  or  refuge  for 
one  at  bay,  and  will  be  clung  to  tenaciously  on 
this  account,  as  well  as  because  it  provides  an 
outlet  for  emotion  otherwise  repressed.  The 
inertia  of  habit  has  also  to  be  reckoned  with, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  fact  that  in  certain 
cases  the  patient  may  have  an  interpretation 
of  his  own  for  the  phenomena,  which  puts  his 
case  in  a  class  absolutely  by  itself,  and  quite 
out  of  the  reach  of  any  person  to  cope  with,  in 
his  opinion.  And  many  of  these  misguided 
conclusions  are  arrived  at  unconsciously,  so 
that  the  victim  is  by  no  means  altogether  to 
blame. 

Facilities 

But  fortunately  we  now  can  deal  with  these 
conditions  in  spite  of  their  baffling  character, 
for  modern  psychology  has  provided  means 
for  exploring  the  subconscious,  and  discover- 
ing and  unraveling  its  tangles.  Word  asso- 
ciations, dream  analysis,  and  scrutiny  of  the 
constant  little  psychopathological  mechan- 
isms of  manner,  speech  and  action  tell  a  story 
and  discover  the  material,  which  comprises 
the  repressed  subconscious  life  of  the  subject, 
and  can  be  disposed  of  for  his  relief. 

[74] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

The  Gist  of  It 

This  last  is  the  crux  of  the  whole  matter. 
We  have  already  seen  that  motive  or  funda- 
mental desire  is  really  determinant  for  all 
that  appears,  and  it  likewise  conditions  recov- 
ery. In  other  words,  you  can  get  well  of 
anything  if  your  desire  to  is  single  and 
paramount. 

Information 

For  a  way  has  been  devised  for  solving 
these  problems  on  their  own  terms,  penetrat- 
ing the  wall  that  shuts  off  the  subconscious, 
discovering  and  discharging  the  morbid  com- 
plexes, effecting  the  necessary  readjustments, 
and  reconstructing  unity  and  well-being. 

The  mind  may  be  conceived  of  as  a  moving- 
picture  camera,  with  the  film  sliding  by  and 
registering  all  experiences  instantaneously, 
and  many  unobserved,  then  slipping  on  to  the 
next,  though  there  is  some  reaction  to  each. 
When  the  photographic  reel  is  projected  on 
the  screen,  all  these  pictures  blend  into  one 
another,  making  an  apparently  smooth,  con- 
tinuous story,  whose  interest  grips,  and  makes 
you  overlook  details  or  leaves  them  blurred. 
In  fact,  experts  have  to  go  over  the  actual 
reels,  correcting  and  taking  out  flaws,  and 
adjusting  the  parts  to  make  a  smooth,  con- 

[75] 


The  Gist  of  It 

tinuous  production.  They  do  this  by  stopping 
the  reel  at  the  doubtful  sections,  scrutinizing 
each  negative  carefully,  perhaps  even  with  a 
microscope,  and  making  the  necessary  cor- 
rections. 

Likewise  a  trained  observer  can  study  your 
case,  detecting  even  in  the  flow  of  the  film 
many  details  unperceived  by  you,  and  being 
equipped  with  instruments  of  precision,  is 
able,  if  you  are  willing,  and  will  halt  for  a 
space  the  rush  of  the  machine,  to  discover 
these  details  to  you  and  facilitate  your  adjust- 
ment of  them. 

Technique 

In  a  series  of  conversational  conferences, 
without  artificial  process,  or  undue  influence 
of  any  sort,  hypnotic,  suggestive  or  otherwise, 
a  case  can  be  analysed,  reconstructed,  and  set 
on  the  road  to  recovery,  equipped  with  immu- 
nity against  future  disorder  as  well. 

The  first  consultation  considers  the  com- 
plete history  of  the  case,  even  from  infancy, 
as  well  as  possible  hereditary  factors,  and 
thus  affords  a  knowledge  of  all  illnesses, 
injuries,  surgical  operations  or  other  episodes 
of  physical  import  and  possible  psychological 
influence,  which  should  be  known  for  purposes 
of  precision,  since  true  healing  must  definitely 
find  out  and  actually  dispose  of  the  exact  cause 

[76] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

of  the  disorder.  Any  physical  investigation 
that  seems  indicated,  is  properly  made  or 
reported  upon,  such  as  testing  the  reflexes  for 
lesions,  the  eyes,  the  manner  of  speech,  the 
general  gait  and  carriage,  as  well  as  consid- 
ering any  particular  disability  that  presents. 
Then  to  eliminate  the  personal  equation  and 
secure  clues  to  the  causation,  we  proceed  to 
the  word  associations,  which  consists  of  read- 
ing to  the  subject  a  list  of  ordinary  words,  and 
requiring  him  to  respond  to  each  one  by 
speaking  the  first  word  that  comes  to  his 
mind,  upon  hearing  the  word  read.  This  is 
not  a  process  of  intellectual  thought,  but 
merely  a  superficial  word-sounding,  though 
the  answer  and  time  required  to  give  it  are 
noted,  and  the  list  when  complete  becomes  a 
schematic  diagram  of  all  mental  processes, 
both  recent  and  remote,  and  points  the  ways 
for  discharging  the  various  tensions  which 
are  responsible  for  the  disability. 

The  patient  is  then  invited  to  file  a  com- 
plete bill  of  complaint,  slurring  nothing,  but 
making  the  case  out  just  as  bad  as  it  has  ever 
appeared,  reciting  all  possible  points  of 
aggravation,  and  voicing  his  own  theory  as  to 
its  nature  and  the  reasons  for  it.  All  this 
time  the  practitioner  will  have  been  keenly 
alert,  absorbing  the  problem  in  all  its  details 
and  ramifications,  and  noting  points  requiring 

[77] 


The  Gist  op  It 

further  consideration ;  and  being  an  observer 
merely,  as  well  as  a  trained  one,  is  able  to 
comprehend  infinitely  more  than  the  harassed 
subject. 

At  subsequent  conferences  the  recital, 
guided  by  the  indicators  already  secured  and 
others  that  accrue,  passes  gradually  through 
the  outer  accretions  of  complaint,  getting 
eventually  to  the  basic  strains  which  are  at 
fault,  and  provides  appropriate  vent  for  the 
morbid  complexes  so  long  under  repression 
and  therefore  causative  of  disease.  The  points 
of  particular  sensitiveness  or  irritation  are 
drawn  out  thoroughly,  and  this  verbal  recital, 
or  putting  out  into  words  of  what  before  had 
been  merely  pent-up  feelings  and  vague 
stresses,  is  a  measure  of  relief  which  is  really 
permanently  curative,  although  perhaps  not 
obviously  so  until  one  has  enjoyed  the  experi- 
ence. At  the  same  time  opportunity  is 
afforded  for  correcting  any  morbid  miscon- 
ceptions, which  serve  to  keep  the  disorder 
fixed,  and  to  offer  the  particular  enlighten- 
ment and  recommendations  for  the  particular 
problems  to  be  solved. 

Promise 

Apparently  unchangeable  conditions  do  not 
constitute  an  obstacle,  for  if  one  person  can 
effect  a  healthy  adjustment  to  the  inevitable 

[78] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

strains  of  objective  life,  another  can  when 
properly  equipped,  and  the  reason  why  this 
process  of  psychologic  analysis  can  provide 
immunity  against  future  disorder  is  because 
all  such  disorder  is  really  predisposed  to  by 
stresses,  or  wrinkles  of  the  film,  made  in  the 
plastic  period  of  childhood,  and  serving  to 
distort  the  subsequent  impressions.  Hence 
by  reverting  to  this  early  time,  and  smooth- 
ing out  those  wrinkles,  their  effect  is  removed, 
and  with  maturity  now  established,  no  further 
impressions  can  produce  the  distortions  which 
were  only  possible  in  the  plastic  state. 


[79] 


DIAGRAM 

But  before  concluding  entirely  our  consid- 
eration of  these  things  in  terms  of  the  objec- 
tive, let  us  analyse  some  specific  form  of  dis- 
ability which  shall  serve  to  illustrate  all  of 
the  basic  principles  that  we  have  been  ex- 
pounding. Let  us  take,  for  example,  deafness, 
a  condition  trying  both  to  victim  and  compan- 
ions, and  which  has  come  on  in  the  usual  way 
through  the  various  stages  of  what  the  spe- 
cialist would  call  otitis  media. 

And  first  we  should  have  a  real  comprehen- 
sion of  all  of  the  factors  involved.  Our  upper 
air  passages  perform  two  functions  in  addi- 
tion to  that  of  merely  admitting  and  expelling 
air.  Inside  the  nasal  cavity  and  upper  throat 
there  are  highly  specialized  tissues  whose 
duty  it  is  to  adjust  the  temperature  of  every 
breath,  however  hot  or  cold,  to  a  degree  suit- 
able for  reception  in  the  lungs ;  and  the  second 
of  the  two  additional  functions  of  these  pas- 
sages is  the  serving  as  channels  for  expres- 
sion of  our  thoughts  and  feelings,  namely, 
speech  and  all  other  vocalization,  including 
even  sighing. 

If,  now,  a  person's  circulation  is  congested 
from  previous  continued  food  excess,  his  del- 

[81] 


The  Gist  of  It 

icate  temperature  equalizers,  there  in  the 
upper  air  passages,  must  work  at  a  serious 
disadvantage,  and  when  his  circulation  is  fur- 
ther strained  by  his  body  being  subjected  to 
draughts  or  chilling,  the  region  of  these  sen- 
sitive regulators  becomes  itself  congested, 
clogged  and  catarrhal,  and  the  unhappy  victim 
has  what  we  call  a  cold,  acute  or  chronic 
according  to  the  merits  of  his  hygiene. 

Furthermore,  the  continuing  experiences  of 
objective  life  are  perpetually  affecting  our 
sensibilities,  and  inducing  emotions  or  atti- 
tudes which  then  have  their  claim  on  expres- 
sion, and  likewise  congest  its  channel  if 
merely  choked  back  or  stifled.  When,  if  for 
some  constraining  motive,  repression  is  de- 
manded, the  organs  of  expression  become  the 
physical  focus  of  this  blockading  conflict,  and 
are  thus  predisposed  to  the  same  unnatural 
condition,  which  then  is  perpetuated  through 
persistence  of  the  unhealthy  feeling  and  sus- 
ceptibility to  its  effects. 

For  instance,  an  attitude  of  inescapable 
personal  revulsion,  if  denied  all  vent  or  ameli- 
oration, would,  thus  arbitrarily  stifled,  vainly 
prompt  to  the  reaction  of  physical  gagging, 
with  these  straining  energies  then  precipitated 
into  tissue  congestion,  and  thus  reproducing 
the  previous  pathological  picture,  which 
shows  in  quite  material  form  that  all  is,  in 

[82] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

fact,  but  the  adventitious  error  of  objective 
mortal  mind. 

But  this  abnormal  state,  however  superin- 
duced, may  then,  if  not  arrested  by  genuine 
correction,  extend  to  adjacent  parts,  up,  down 
or  sideways,  and  can  pass  by  way  of  the  eus- 
tachian tube  to  the  cavity  of  the  ear,  there 
impairing  the  hearing  function  and  resulting 
in  what  we  call  deafness,  which,  after  all,  is 
not  in  the  true  primary  sense  an  ear  trouble, 
and  could  have  been,  or  can  be,  obviated  or 
corrected  at  any  stage,  by  an  improved  hy- 
giene and  intelligent  psychological  readjust- 
ment, which  affords  real  outlet  for  the  morbid 
feelings  whose  energies  the  victim  may  not  be 
sufficiently  enlightened  of  himself  to  dispose 
constructively. 

And  these  same  principles  obtain  through- 
out all  pathology,  from  insomnia  to  hemor- 
rhoids. For  example,  the  so-called  female 
diseases,  that  most  fertile  of  all  fields  for 
non-traumatic  surgery,  supervene  upon  insult 
to  these  functions,  either  positive  or  negative, 
and,  in  the  presence  of  morbid  psychology, 
precipitation  of  those  energies  into  conges- 
tion, displacement  or  tumor.  Moreover,  it 
might  not  be  amiss  for  clinicians  to  bear  in 
mind  the  reciprocating  responsiveness  of  all 
orificial  tissues,  which  conduces  to  vicarious 

[83] 


The  Gist  of  It 

manifestations,  or  displacement  of  lesions  to 
the  alternative  site. 

Yet  cure  is  unfailingly  feasible  through 
searching  personal  reconstruction  and  true 
co-ordination,  though  nothing  short  of  enlight- 
ened, continuously  constructive  living  is  com- 
patible with  good  health ;  for  all  energies  are 
periodically  claiming  their  just  measure  of 
expression,  and  unless  wisely  disposed,  are 
more  apt  to  rend  or  deform  than  to  rear. 
Whatsoever  the  experience  or  strain,  it  carries 
its  charge  of  raw  energy,  which  latter  is  eter- 
nally transmutable,  and  mankind  is  endowed 
with  choice.  Choose,  therefore,  that  the  prod- 
uct shall  be  good,  not  rending  but  rearing,  a 
life  fine  and  beautiful  and  free  from  all  taint. 


[84] 


PART  III 

THE  ATTAINMENT 


SUBJECTIVITY 

Up  to  this  point  our  problem  has  been 
presented  and  its  various  phases  dealt 
with  from  the  exclusively  objective  or 
concrete  standpoint,  and  as  though 
these  specific  manifestations  and  procedures 
were  all  that  there  was  to  be  considered  or 
availed  of.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the 
objective  or  phenomenal  phase  of  life  is  but 
an  infinitesimal  and  ephemeral  fraction  of  the 
infinite  whole  of  reality,  from  out  of  which  all 
that  manifests  is  a  showing  forth,  and  back 
into  which  it  is  resolved  again,  just  like  crys- 
tals from  out  of  their  matrix  flux,  which  redis- 
solves  and  can  reproduce  them,  and  thus  is 
not  only  their  source,  but  their  medium  of 
existence,  their  renewal  and  their  immortality 
as  well. 

The  Subconscious 

On  a  previous  page  we  made  reference  to 
the  subconscious  mind,  as  being  that  major 
portion  of  the  self  in  which  are  enacted  all 
those  usually  unnoted,  automatic  or  reflex 
activities,  our  more  delicate  and  deeper  reac- 
tions to  situations  and  people,  the  reception 

[87] 


The  Gist  of  It 

of  those  indescribable  telepathic  or  premon- 
itory impressions,  and  in  fact  all  the  functions 
of  being,  except  those  to  which  one  is  giving 
attentive  regard,,  and  which  latter  are  then 
called  conscious  as  distinguished  from  the 
unnoted  but  preponderant  subconscious. 

To  illustrate  these  principles  let  us  assume 
that  I  meet  someone.  I  see  them  and  hear 
them,  and  thus  know  how  they  look  and  what 
they  say.  I  also  consider  my  impression  upon 
them  and  frame  my  own  expression  to  them, 
and  'this  is  about  the  limit  of  what  takes  place 
consciously  or  in  full  cognizant  awareness. 
But  subconsciously  what  an  infinitude  of  ex- 
changes and  reactions,  impalpable  but  irre- 
sistible, which  determine  the  entire  character 
of  the  meeting  and  its  resultants,  far,  far  more 
than  what  is  merely  seen,  or  heard  or  said. 
For  this  takes  place  in  that  vast,  all  compre- 
hensive, subconscious  or  subjective  and  real 
realm  which  it  is  the  purpose  of  these  lines 
to  try  and  tell  of. 

Again.  I  enter  a  room  and  at  once  am 
aware  of  the  attitude  of  all  the  people  in  it 
toward  me,  whether  they  turn  and  regard  me 
or  not.  One  can  also  many  times  feel  himself 
regarded,  when  mentally  ignorant  of  any  per- 
sonal presence  whatsoever,  or  even  be  uncon- 
sciously sensible  of  the  gaze  of  unseen  animals 
in  the  vicinity.    All  of  which  reveals  a  com- 

[88] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

munication  and  transference  above,  beyond 
and  exceeding  that  of  the  specialized  per- 
ceptive channels,  and  by  which  they  are 
transcended. 

But  still  this  is  not  all,  for  many  finely 
organized  ones  frequently,  and  all  at  some 
time,  will  have  experienced  the  reception  of 
true  impressions  from  other  persons  at  a  dis- 
tance, or  from  events  farther  on  in  the  future, 
to  which  specific  phenomena  the  names  telep- 
athy and  premonition  have  been  given. 

And  now  whereby,  wherein,  or  whence? 
The  answer  is  subjectively,  in  or  by  the  lim- 
itless, all-sensing  and  all-generating  subcon- 
scious mind,  better  called  extra-conscious, 
since  it  is  not  just  below,  but  also  above, 
around  and  in  and  through,  and  thus  contains 
and  really  procreates  all  objectivity. 

Substance 

Inasmuch  as  it  is  universal  truth  that  we 
are  seeking  to  expound,  let  us  consider  sub- 
stance, composed  as  we  know  of  atoms,  and 
these  in  turn  of  vibrant  constellations  of  orbit- 
chasing  electrons,  each  one  of  which  is  a 
focused  point  of  concentrated  energy,  a 
charge  of  so-called  negative  electricity,  the 
ultimate  of  all  that  we  know  of  objective 
things. 

[89] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Libido 

On  previous  pages  it  has  been  shown  that 
all  that  we  are  is  conditioned  by  desire,  that 
well-being  or  disease  is  determined  by  har- 
monious balance  or  the  reverse  among  basic 
impelling  motives,  that  lesions  are  pro- 
duced by  the  precipitation  of  the  arbitrarily 
repressed  inherent  energies,  or  growth  ad- 
vanced through  wise,  constructive  and  beau- 
tiful expression  of  them.  To  signify  all  that 
is  meant  by  desiring,  or  wanting,  needing, 
yearning,  loving,  caring,  which  compose  all 
instinct  or  prompting,  there  has  been  selected 
the  all-inclusive  word  libido,  which  embraces 
all  that  there  is  in  these  and  more,  and  this 
may  then  signify  that  inner,  cosmic  pressure 
which,  caring  so  for  creation,  uttered,  "Let 
There  Be  Light!"  and  then  stood  manifest 
physically  in  the  first  luminous  nebula,  and  on 
through  all  the  matter  that  has  followed. 

God 

So  substance  then  is  energy,  and  energy  is 
desire,  all-producing  as  above,  and  desire  is 
of  God,  all-loving  and  all-cherishing,  whence 
we  came,  wherein  we  exist  and  are  renewed, 
and  to  whom  we  return  to  be  received  again 
with  whatever  has  been  gleaned  from  life's 
attritions.     Space,  therefore,  is  not  empty, 

[90] 


Fob  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

dotted  here  and  there  with  suns  and  planets, 
but  rather  is  it  filled,  continuous  and  vibrant 
with  life,  palpitant  and  fecund,  the  life  of  the 
Spirit,  limitless  and  eternal,  the  supreme 
matrix  of  us  and  of  all  that  is,  and  in  which 
we  need  but  rest  to  be  reborn. 

What  and  Wheke 

What  and  where  are  the  stars?  They  are 
energized  constellated  precipitations  of  the 
ardent  love  of  God,  resting  in  His  very  bosom. 
What  and  where  is  an  atom?  It  is  the  same 
in  microcosm.  What  and  where  is  a  crystal? 
It  is  a  manifestation  in  discreet  form  of,  out 
of  and  in  its  own  primordial  flux.  What  and 
where  is  a  thought?  It  is  a  formulated  con- 
densation in  individualized  mind  of  a  feeling 
derived  from  the  whole  of  libido,  which  always 
finds  first  expression  for  new  manifestation  in 
terms  of  what  is  already  existing.  What  and 
where  are  you  and  I?  We  are  free,  choosing 
units  of  divine  intention,  sustained  and  enma- 
trixed  in  infinite  mind.  Which  then  is  par- 
amount, the  fractional,  ephemeral,  confusing 
objective,  or  the  boundless,  inexhaustible, 
serene  subjective  all? 

The  above  lines  have  been  written  to  show 
to  those  who  need  that  there  is  the  subjective, 
that  it  is  the  infinite,  omnipotent  source  of  all 
renewing,  healing,  maintaining  and  supply,  of 

[91] 


The  Gist  of  It 

which  there  is  nothing  created  that  is  inde- 
pendently self-sufficient,  and  that  it  lies  all 
around  and  is  saturated  through  us,  merely 
waiting  to  be  availed  of,  and  often  not  even 
waiting,  but  prompting  or  presenting  what  is 
for  our  good  before  we  know  it. 

If  a  crystal  is  cracked,  or  shattered  or 
defective,  can  it  be  repaired  by  mere  objective 
contact  with  other  crystals?  Or  be  enhanced 
or  made  more  perfect  by  competitive  contem- 
plation of  its  fellows  ?  Of  course  not.  But  it 
is  repaired,  renewed  and  perfected  by  re-solu- 
tion in  its  matrix,  and  taking  time  to  re-form 
perfectly  in  accord  with  true  intention. 

So  the  soul,  and  its  body,  find  their  only  real 
restoring  in  reblending  with  the  Infinite,  which 
is  but  waiting  to  receive,  and  replenishes  with- 
out effort,  by  way  of  the  unseparated  unity 
of  all.  To  purify  air  in  a  room,  you  have  but 
to  open  apertures  to  the  admission  of  all 
atmosphere,  and  at  once  the  room  is  fresh  and 
vital.  No  effort  is  required  then.  The  outside 
air  was  but  waiting.  Likewise  your  extra- 
conscious  mind,  and  likewise  God,  who  in  one 
of  His  aspects  is  this,  and  would  redeem  you 
now. 

EXTRACONSCIOUS  MlND 

Your  extraconscious  mind,  then,  is  the 
divine  reality  of  you,  bearing  the  same  pro- 

[92] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

portional  importance  to  your  conscious  think- 
ing as  does  the  bulk  of  the  positive  sphere  of 
an  atom  to  its  gyrating  negative  electrons, 
which  relatively  are  as  dispersed  and  infre- 
quent as  the  planets  in  a  solar  system,  or  the 
mere  formulated  thoughts  in  the  entire  reach 
of  your  mind.  It  is  the  so-called  interstellar 
or  intra-atomic  space  which  is  the  fertile  real. 
Likewise  it  is  your  extraconscious  mind  which 
sustains  you  and  provides  you  with  all  that 
you  have  or  are,  so  leam  to  trust  it  utterly. 

And  already,  perhaps,  it  has  been  perceived 
that  the  so-called  space  is  not  divided  off  in 
measured  quantities  among  its  demarkating 
precipitations,  but  rather  is  diffused  freely 
and  interchangeably  throughout,  just  as  the 
air,  whether  temporarily  confined  in  a  room, 
or  freely  circulating  outside,  is  all  one  atmos- 
phere, with  all  of  its  components  universally 
distributed.  So  to  speak  the  truest,  we  would 
simply  say  extraconscious  mind,  instead  of 
referring  to  yours  or  mine,  and  now  it  can 
be  realized  how  all  of  the  so-called  subcon- 
scious phenomena  which  were  spoken  of  at 
first  come  to  transpire,  as  well  as  all  others, 
including  even  that  of  absent  treatment;  for 
through  the  continuity  of  the  intervening, 
vibrant  medium,  these  subjective  transfer- 
ences are  incessantly  taking  place,  and  their 
perception  and  beneficence  is  only  hindered 

[93] 


The  Gist  of  It 

by  excessive  concern  and  intrigue  with  the 
pseudo-primary  objective,  things,  persons  or 
premises. 

Realization 

Any  who  might  care  to  test  this  conclusion, 
or  verify  it  for  themselves  by  actual  experi- 
ence, can  do  so  without  hindrance.  Simply 
disengage  yourself  from  objectivity  for  a 
space,  detached  from  all  habitual  activity, 
mental  or  physical,  and  permitting  yourself 
to  perceive  through  your  perhaps  previously 
unrecognized  fourth  dimensional  comprehen- 
sion, where  everything  is  realized  though  un- 
formulated, you  will  secure  evidence  of  your 
own  for  yourself.  For,  as  stated  before  in 
another  way,  knowledge  can  only  come  to  one 
first  in  terms  of  what  they  already  know,  and 
to  gain  this  knowledge  you  must  open  your 
own  channel  for  it  to  come  to  you.  Yet  the 
true  realization  is  not  objective  and  cannot  be, 
being  otherwise,  so  do  not  seek  to  objectify  it, 
or  strive  for  it  objectively,  for  it  is  of  the  soul, 
which  itself  is  never  seen,  nor  heard  nor  felt, 
nor  otherwise  perceived,  but  only  known. 

Signs 

Yet  there  have  been  vouchsafed  for  those 
who  care,  principles  for  guidance  in  this  vast 
unchartable     realm,     principles     sometimes 

[94] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

couched  in  seemingly  contradictory,  cryptic 
language,  as  "The  law  of  non-resistance  and 
non-attachment,"  "Seek  in  the  heart  the 
source  of  evil  and  expunge  it,"  "Stand  aside 
in  the  coming  battle ;  and  though  thou  fightest, 
be  not  thou  the  warrior,"  "A  man's  foes  shall 
be  they  of  his  own  household,"  "Cast  thy 
bread  upon  the  waters,"  "Forsake  wife  and 
child,  and  follow  me,"  "I  will  not  let  thee  go 
until  thou  bless  me,"  "As  ye  sow,  so  shall  ye 
also  reap,"  "Become  as  a  little  child,"  "Con- 
fess your  sins  one  to  another,"  "Divine  love 
always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every 
human  need,"  "He  that  loseth  his  life  shall 
save  it,"  "I  and  my  Father  are  one,"  "Be 
perfect." 

Metaphysics 

And  there  are  yet  other,  more  explanatory 
statements,  embodied  in  what  is  known  as  the 
science  of  Metaphysics,  which  says  that  the 
vast  unknown  is  like  a  mirror,  yielding  back 
in  true  reflection  just  whatever  is  projected 
into  it,  that  to  reap  we  need  but  sow,  only 
taking  care  to  cast  the  right  mental  seed,  for 
whichever  is  sown  comes  up  in  its  turn.  And 
we  know  that  this  is  true.  So  if  it  is  health, 
if  it  is  happiness,  if  it  is  prosperity  that  we 
would  reap,  let  us  project  it,  for  whatever  we 
purvey  is  in  this  fair-dealing  mart  received, 

[95] 


The  Gist  of  It 

and  dealt  back  in  due  course,  with  but  the 
interest  of  an  enlightening  lesson  added. 

The  supremely  vital  conclusion  from  all 
that  has  gone  before,  with  all  of  its  complex- 
ities, is  that  the  attitude  of  mind  is  what 
determines  all,  and  this  itself,  if  unhealthy, 
will  change  as  soon  as  one  cares  for  its  chang- 
ing, when,  in  accordance  with  what  we  have 
just  mentioned,  the  harvest  will  be  gathered, 
and  as  soon.  For  all  that  is  took  its  origin  in 
Mind,  and  whatever  is  conceived  in  mind 
comes  into  being.  So  let  us  start  fresh,  freed 
from  the  husks  of  outworn  preconceptions, 
and  build  a  new  estate,  for  ourselves  and  for 
the  world. 

Application 

And  since  for  this  it  is  fresh  new  thoughts 
that  we  should  be  thinking,  we  must  detach 
and  disengage  ourselves  from  the  old.  But 
that  is  hard,  and  requires  practice.  So  let  us 
take  occasion,  when  the  hour  is  propitious, 
and  secure  secluded  quiet,  safe  from  any  inter- 
ruption, and  first  tranquilize  our  bodies,  to 
insure  from  their  distraction,  then  disperse 
the  petulant  thinking  that  has  crystallized  our 
minds.  In  this  fallow  receptivity,  when  it  is 
in  fact  established,  there  can  then  come  what- 
soever we  permit  ourselves  response  to.  And 
whatever  we  receive  shall  forthwith  be  con- 

[96] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

ceived  and  born.  So  let  us  select  an  attain- 
ment, in  advance,  to  get  response  in,  and  begin 
to  use  this  resource  in  accordance  with  a  plan. 
For,  for  those  who  would  appreciate  some 
guidance  in  this  practice,  there  has  been 
devised  a  process  by  true  thinkers  for  their 
use. 

Formula 

First  of  all,  then,  set  your  standard — pre- 
determine what  you  need,  for  the  uncreate  is 
all-fecund,  and  brings  forth  whate'er  you 
breed.  Having  done  this,  then  get  quiet,  place 
your  body  in  repose,  for  the  mind  must  be 
untroubled,  by  the  body,  or  its  pose.  Now 
grow  passive,  all  unthinking,  freed  from 
thoughts  which  but  distract,  for  this  is  a  preg- 
nant process,  in  which  intellect  does  not  act. 
Thrust  all  futile,  petty  thinkings  out  from 
hence,  at  this  great  time,  for  there  is  to  be 
creation,  and  that  privilege  is  sublime.  Con- 
centrate your  reach  of  interest,  down  to  a 
focus  clear  and  still,  into  which  then  cast  your 
image  of  the  thing  that  you  would  will.  Quiet 
now,  all  breath  suspended,  fix  this  image  in  its 
womb,  for  the  seed  must  be  inplanted,  that 
the  plant  may  come  to  bloom.  Pause  and 
breathe  now,  making  vital,  all  that  you  have 
willed  should  be,  for  conception  has  been 
started  and  the  birth  must  be  made  free.  Yet 

[97] 


The  Gist  of  It 

dwell  a  space  in  rapt  oblivion,  that  gestation 
may  advance,  for  it  is  a  virile  Drain-child  that 
we  would  have  of  our  trance.  And  if  you  have 
taken  exception  to  this  rhythm,  and  want 
prose,  there  have  been  profound  psychol- 
ogists, who  true  formulas  here  propose : 

1.  Set  your  standard  of  attainment  in  ad- 
vance. 

2.  Assume  a  condition  of  utter  physical 
relaxation. 

3.  Render  the  mind  absolutely  passive  and 
cleared  of  all  objective  thinking. 

4.  Concentrate  intellection  down  to  the 
point  of  fixation  of  consciousness  merging  into 

5.  Subjective  meditation,  or  mental  abstrac- 
tion, which  state  constitutes  the  point  of  abso- 
lute susceptibility  to  impression,  or  "the 
psychological  moment. ' ' 

6.  Project  the  clear  image  of  the  attainment 
desired. 

7.  Fix  this  in  retentive  abstraction,  so  that 
it  becomes  the  "predominant  mental  impres- 
sion" which  is  the  absolute  determinant  of 
everyone's  life. 

Advice 

One  should  commence  by  definitely  dispos- 
ing of  every  single  element,  both  outside  and 
in,  which  could  prove  distracting,  and  the  un- 
practiced  and  possibly  baffled  health-seeker 

[98] 


Foe  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

would  do  well  to  select  as  his  first  simple  pre- 
determined standard,  that  of  restoration, 
without  any  other  until  the  procedure  is  easily 
engaged  in ;  while  all  beginners  should  confine 
themselves  to  just  one  step  at  a  time  until  that 
one  is  completely  mastered,  for  by  doing  this 
they  will  find  the  succeeding  ones  come  of 
themselves  and  much  more  easily. 

Yet  hold  in  mind  that  there  is  no  limitation, 
whatsoever,  and  that  the  infinite  of  everything 
is  for  you, — health,  happiness,  freedom, 
power,  opulence,  success,  unfoldment, — for 
"with  man  not  all  things  are  possible,  but  with 
God,"  and  it  is  of  God  that  we  here  avail,  so 
listen  for,  receive  and  give  full  measure  of 
response  to  His  prompting. 

Moreover,  since  we  all  need  renourishing, 
both  spiritually  and  mentally,  there  is  offered 
now,  for  your  subjective  contemplation,  the 
following  inspired  Life  Plan,  to  be  first  truly 
conceived  in  mind,  that  it  may  materialize  in 
life. 


[99] 


LIFE  PLAN 

"I  can  be  what  I  want  to  be  and  I  can 
express  in  my  life  all  the  power,  freedom, 
beauty  and  abundance  that  I  desire,  and 
even  more  than  that  of  which  I  dream,  and 
can  bring  to  myself  those  things  that  I 
once  thought  impossible.  From  this  moment 
I  shed  all  the  old  limitations  that  have 
been  binding  me  and  step  forth  free,  ready 
and  able  to  achieve  and  I  now  plan  toward 
that  end.  I  am  going  to  think  only  that 
which  I  want  to  see  come  true  in  my  life.  I 
will  read  with  interest  and  fervor  aloud  and 
concentrate  with  zeal  and  devotion  on  this 
'Life  Pattern.'  I  will  give  it  a  half  hour 
concentration  every  morning  before  I  go  forth 
to  meet  the  world  and  a  half  hour  each  even- 
ing before  retiring.  I  will  not  neglect  this, 
or  say  I  have  not  the  time  or  that  my  mind  is 
too  tired,  for  by  saying  this  I  am  turning  away 
from  the  very  thing  that  will,  by  a  little  pa- 
tient effort  and  perseverance,  reveal  me  to 
myself  a  free  and  powerful  man  able  to 
control  my  life  for  its  highest  happiness  in 
every  detail, — thus  becoming  a  blessing  and 
a  light  to  all  the  world  and  an  actual  demon- 
stration that  God  meant  every  word  when  He 

[101] 


The  Gist  of  It 

said:  'Be  ye  pekfect  even  as  your  Father  in 
Heaven  is  perfect/ 

"So  that's  decided! 

"I'm  tired  of  seeing  myself  come  under  the 
untrue  spell  of  limitation  and  lack.  Others 
may  believe  in  and  talk  this  foolishness,  but 
as  for  me,  I  am  through  forever  with  any- 
thing in  thought,  word  or  deed  that  does  not 
spell  Beauty  and  Abundance  ! 

"That  is  settled! 

"I  can  accomplish  miracles.  Within  the  next 
year  I  shall  accomplish  what  would  be  even 
magic  achievement  for  the  effort  of  one  life- 
time, through  my  faithful  daily  devotion  to 
this  simple  Life  Plan.  I  shall  pursue  it,  not 
with  the  idea  that  I  am  creating,  but  merely 
uncovering  the  treasure  that  my  Father  has 
stored  up  for  me.  The  thing  is  really  done 
already  and  even  now. 

"This  does  not  make  me  indifferent  to  my 
task,  but  the  ultimate  assured  success  (because 
it  is  really  existing  now,)  adds  enthusiasm  and 
security  to  my  effort.  The  result  is  so  sure. 
How  could  I  be  foolish  enough  to  believe 
otherwise! 

"I  refuse  to  be  hindered  by  any  of  the  old 
race  beliefs,  so  out  with  you,  everything  that 
tries  to  discourage  or  terrorize  me. 

[102] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 
"You  are  nothing. 

"I  intend  to  demonstrate.  From  this 
moment  on  I  am  not  going  to  waste  any  more 
time  merely  believing,  but  shall  make  this 
effort  (with  the  previous  happy  assurance 
that  the  work  is  already  done)  actively  to 
realize  my  Divine  Inheritance,  and  I  can 
do  this  by  creating  my  'Life  Pattern'  and  then 
nourishing  it  each  day  until  that  which  is  in 
the  Inner  is  expressed  in  the  Outer. 

"What  a  wonderful  game  this  is  going  to 
be! 

"It  is  not  going  to  be  a  strenuous  mental 
effort  and  task,  just  a  positive  though  gentle 
recognition  of  my  Divinity! 

"Who  am  If  I  am  myself,  a  free  being 
born  with  a  Divine  Inheritance  that  increases 
the  more  I  draw  from  it.  This  Inheritance 
consists  of  Superb  Health,  Unlimited  Abun- 
dance, Dynamic  Power  and  a  Life  that  is 
free  from  limitations  and  hampering  con- 
ditions. 

"At  this  point  I  may  begin  to  feel  that  I  am. 
anything  but  healthy,  wealthy  and  free,  but  I 
declare  again  I  am  free!  'Begone  the  sense 
that  tries  to  tell  me  otherwise!'  If  I  am  going 
to  heed  these  earthly  senses,  I  might  as  ivell 
go  back  to  my  old  stupid  beliefs  and,  not  pur- 
sue this  plan,  but  I  know  that  within  me  is 

[103] 


The  Gist  of  It 

a  vital  Power  against  which  everything  else 
is  powerless!  I  may  expect  all  hinds  of  grin- 
ning monsters  trying  to  show  me  how  bound  I 
am  personally  and  financially,  but  I  will  not 
give  ear  to  these  tempters.  I  know  this  is  not 
the  Truth  and  I  have  taken  my  stand  in  the 
Truth  and  my  Divinity  seriously.  In  the  face 
of  every  disappointment  that  occurs  after  I 
have  commenced  this  life  plan,  I  will  endeavor 
to  still  every  adverse  emotion  of  fear  and 
depression  (which  I  might  as  well  recognize  as 
my  two  worst  enemies  to  be  overcome). 
If  I  don't  seem  able  to  act  as  freely  and  lav- 
ishly as  I  would  like,  I  at  least  will  make  the 
Spirit  of  the  action  Big  and  Free  from  fear, 
making  the  outer  action  a  mere  'going 
through  a  motion/  so  that  the  Spirit  of  my 
action  becomes  real,  and  will  ultimately  mani- 
fest in  its  fullness.  When  the  time  comes  for 
me  to  meet  bills  and  obligations,  I  will  change 
my  attitude  and  train  myself  to  love  to  meet 
them,  knowing  that  only  by  circulating  my 
supply  can  it  grow  and  return  to  me.  There  is 
no  loss!  When  I  have  overcome  fear  of 
finance  the  organs  of  my  body  will  be  perfect 
in  function.  If  I  had  unlimited  wealth  I  be- 
lieve I  would  be  well  and  I  Know  I  would  be 
free.  Why  can't  I  accept  the  fact  that  I  have 
unlimited  abundance  and  act  accordingly? 
Most  men  must  see  to  believe,  obeying  the  tes- 

[104] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

iimony  of  the  senses.  I  believe  first  and  then 
see  the  result  of  my  faith.  This  in  itself  is 
the  miracle.  I  live  and  luxuriate  in  the  belief 
that  my  good  is  manifesting  now.  Once  a 
week  I  will  indulge  in  some  expenditure  that 
my  senses  tell  me  is  rash,  for  I  will  overcome 
these  facts  that  stand  over  me  with  a  club.  I 
will  seise  the  club  from  Fear's  hand  and  use 
it  as  a  wand  to  disarm  all  opposing  forces.  I 
will  not  think  of  my  bank  book  in  the  amount 
indicated  in  my  bank  book.  I  see  through  this. 
I  will  teach  with  confidence  to  others  this  thing 
that  I,  too,  am  learning.  When  I  cease  my 
fear  of  loss,  I  will  find  that  those  who  come 
to  me  will  become  open  channels  through 
which  part  of  my  supply  will  flow.  I  say 
'part'  of  my  supply  because  this  is  not  my 
only  avenue  of  resource.  I  shall  become  more 
resourceful  and  develop  with  ease  plans 
whereby  my  work  will  be  facilitated,  my  com- 
pensation adjusted  to  meet  all  demands.  I 
shall  spend  a  part  of  my  concentration  hour  in 
acknowledging  'all'  benefits  that  come  my 
way,  however  small.  I  shall  think  of  the  many 
things  I  can  do  well  and  try  to  get  the  same 
mental  control  of  my  life's  machinery.  I  shall 
expect  the  happy  unexpected  thing,  the  magic, 
the  undreamed  of,  and  I  will  take  the  un- 
wanted things  and  turn  them  into  stepping 
stones  toward  the  thing  that  'is'  desired." 

[105] 


The  Gist  op  It 

And  since  each  day  is  fully  worthy  of  its 
own  especial  launching,  there  are  offered  the 
following   meditations    for    additional    daily 


[106] 


ENRICHMENT 

Monday 

"This  day  I  shall  endeavor  to  realize  that 
I  am  brand  new,  fresh  from  the  Heart  of  the 
Infinite.  I  drop  off  every  old  limitation  or 
belief  about  myself  and  proclaim  my  birth- 
right, my  divinity — that  I  am  indeed  a  child 
of  the  Most  High,'  made  in  the  image  and 
likeness  of  God,  and  because  of  this  Truth  I 
shall  not  think  anything  of  myself  that  is  not 
Beautiful.  When  I  find  myself  saying  or 
thinking  or  doing  that  which  is  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Highest,  I  shall  immediately 
'right  about  face,'  and  instead  of  condemning 
myself,  I  shall  gently  remind  myself  that  this 
is  not  the  true  and  sweet  way  to  speak,  think 
or  act,  and  shall  change  my  thought  to  cor- 
respond with  Divinity.  If  I  am  tempted  to 
feel  I  am  sick,  I  shall  try  to  meditate  upon 
the  ideal  of  perfect  health  which  I,  in  my  true 
Being,  am  one  with.  If  I  feel  I  lack,  I  shall 
say  over  and  over  again 'God  is  my  Abundant 
Supply,  and  the  Father  Knoweth  that  I 

HAVE   NEED   OF  ALL  THESE   THINGS*;    but  I  will 

seek  first  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  all  these 
things  shall  be  added." 

[107] 


The  Gist  of  It 


Tuesday 


"This  day  I  shall  throw  aside  all  sense  of 
anxiety  or  responsibility.  I  shall  go  into 
partnership  with  God,  saying:  'God  is  for  me. 
Who  or  what  can  be  against  me?'  I  shall 
proclaim  aloud:  'All  things  are  possible 
with  God  and  I  am  free  from  all  that  binds 
or  hinders.  It  is  so!'  /  shall  sincerely  keep 
this  little  agreement  with  myself  today,  and 
every  time  I  feel  a  sense  of  burden  or  respon- 
sibility, I  shall  declare  aloud:  'I  am  free. 
I  am  free!'  If  there  is  any  special  thing 
that  burdens,  I  shall  say:   'I  shall  be  able 

TO  FULLY  MEET  THIS  NEED  OR  THIS  DEBT  AT  THE 

right  time.'  I  shall  trust  implicitly  in  God, 
as  my  partner,  and  I  shall  be  His  willing 
agent,  keeping  His  word  as  my  Trust.  At  the 
eleventh  hour,  if  not  before,  I  shall  confi- 
dently expect  fulfillment  of  His  promise  that 
'Thy  Father  hears  thee  even  before  thou 
asketh.'  I  shall  feel  this  to  be  a  wonderful 
day  in  which  I  shall  demonstrate  freedom 
from  anxiety.  I  shall  try  to  realize  that  God 
is  nearer  than  breathing,  nearer  than  my  own 
heart-beat,  and  I  know  that  when  evening 
comes  I  shall  realize  the  Peace  that  passeth 
all  understanding." 


[108] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Wednesday 

"This  day  I  am  going  to  be  thankful  and 
count  my  blessings.  I  shall  say  aloud:  'I  am 
thankful  for  this'  whenever  any  small  thing 
occurs  that  has  good  connected  with  it.  I 
shall  praise  my  hands  when  they  perform 
their  activities,  and  give  thanks  for  these 
useful  members.  When  I  walk  I  shall  be 
thankful  for  my  feet  that  carry  me  about,  and 
by  being  thankful  I  shall  find  my  feet  will 
lead  me  to  just  the  place  or  person  that  I  am 
seeking.  I  shall  be  thankful  for  everything 
that  happens  today,  and  even  if  the  day  does 
not  seem  to  be  very  bright  for  me,  still  I  will 
be  thankful  that  it  is  not  any  worse.  I  shall 
be  determined  to  find  something  for  which  I 
can  give  thanks.  This  is  really  a  form  of 
prayer  and  I  am  keeping  God's  word  when  I 
give  thanks,  for  He  tells  us  in  the  Bible  to 
pray,  saying:  'Father  I  thank  Thee  that 
Thou  hast  heard  me  and  I  know  that  Thou 
hearest  me  always.'  When  I  ask  God  to  do 
anything  for  me  I  will  not  doubt  that  He  hears 
me  any  more  than  I  would  doubt  an  earthly 
good  friend  who  gives  me  his  promise  that  he 
will  do  something  for  me.  Sometimes  prayer 
is  not  answered  just  as  we  anticipate,  but 
answered  it  surely  will  be,  for  'God  moves  in 
a  mysterious  way  His  Wonders  to  per- 
form.' " 

[109] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Thursday 

' "This  day  I  am  going  to  live  in  fairyland. 
I  shall  have  the  expectant  attitude  that  all  my 
dreams  are  soon  coming  true.  Every  time  a 
bell  rings  or  a  knock  comes  to  the  door,  I  shall 
expect  it  to  be  a  message  of  glad  tidings.  Be- 
fore the  day  closes  I  shall  expect  to  realize  at 
least  one  heart's  desire.  All  day  long  I  shall 
have  this  song  in  my  heart:   'I  possess  now 

IN    CONCRETE    FORM    ALL    THE    DESIRES    OF    MY 

heart.'  I  shall  hold  this  blessing  also  over 
others  who  touch  my  path  today.  Every  let- 
ter or  parcel  I  open  today  I  shall  expect  to 
contain  good  news,  thus  forming  the  habit  of 
attracting  my  good,  and  I  shall  keep  on  doing 
this  until  I  demonstrate  fully.  I  shall  bless 
every  piece  of  money  that  passes  through  my 
hands.  I  shall  train  myself  in  a  new  valua- 
tion. I  shall  think  in  a  Big  true  way.  When 
I  give  $5  it  will  seem  no  loss,  but  when  I  re- 
ceive $5  it  will  seem  a  great  benefit.  I  shall  not 
clutch  money.  I  will  circulate  it  freely  with 
no  thought  of  lack.  Only  my  Best  good  can 
come  to  me,  for  I  shall  become  a  center  to 
which  that  Good  Loves  to  flow.  I  am  a  Magnet 
and  cannot  escape  my  Heart's  desires," 


[110] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Feiday 

"This  day  I  shall  devote  to  getting  in  touch 
and  becoming  at  one  with  my  cosmic  sense. 
I  shall  not  believe  my  five  earthly  senses  hut 
I  will  endeavor  to  hear,  see  and  speak  only 
the  absolute  Good  and  Beautiful.  I  will  put 
the  best  light  and  construction  on  all  I  see 
or  hear.  I  will  not  judge  except  through  my 
Divine  Eye  and  Hearing, — thus  will  I  rid 
myself  of  all  condemnation  and  by  so  doing 
I  myself  shall  be  freed  from  the  strife  of 
tongues  and  through  this  loving,  simple  way 
come  under  Divine  Protection.  I  will  not  look 
with  these  physical  eyes  where  they  see  age, 
lack  or  limitation.  I  shall  have  a  'Vision  that 
looks  Through'  seeming  appearances  and 
sees  naught  but  Perfection.  Even  if  the  tes- 
timony of  my  earthly  senses  tells  me  I  am 
wrong,  still  will  I  obey  my  Highest  Cosmic 
sense  until  by  the  very  force  of  Obedience  and 
Faith,  based  on  the  words  of  Jesus  Christ, 
believing  before  I  have  received,  I  shall  see 
manifest  in  my  affairs  a  state  of  Wholeness 
and  Happiness,  thus  becoming  an  Inspiration 
to  the  World,  for  'I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  I  shall 
draw  all  men  unto  me.'  " 


[HI] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Satukday 

"This  day  I  shall  consecrate  my  entire  be- 
ing to  God.  I  shall  come  into  the  realization 
that  my  body  is  the  Temple  of  the  living  God, 
and  as  such  it  is  capable  of  drawing  from 
within  the  elixirs  of  life,  health,  growth  and 
beauty  and  becoming  glorified  and  radiantly 
beautiful,  and  possessed  with  abounding 
health.  Its  vitality  and  endurance  is  inex- 
haustible because  it  draws  its  Strength  from 
its  Source  which  is  Spirit,  and  Spirit  is  life  in 
Essence.  I  shall  realize  that  I  am  the  captain 
of  my  own  lifeboat  (or  body)  and  it  is  I  who 
shall  control,  dictate  and  command  it  and  its 
actions.  My  feet  and  hands  and  eyes  do  not 
move  unless  I  consciously  or  unconsciously 
command  them.  Why  then  should  any  organ 
or  muscle  of  my  body  manifest  limitation? 
I  will  see  to  it  that  I  order  my  subconscious 
realm  aright,  that  all  action  shall  be  harmo- 
nious.   I  will  declare:  'All  the  actions  and 

FUNCTIONS  OF  MY  BODY  AKE  HARMONIOUS  BE- 
CAUSE it  is  the  Temple  of  God  and  God  can- 
not DWELL  WHERE  THERE  IS  ANY  IMPER- 
FECTION.' " 


[112] 


Fob  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

Sunday 

"This  day  I  shall  try  to  be  forgiving  and 
just, seeing  the  other  side  of  each  question, and 
learn  the  Divine  Art  of  Compassion.  Instead 
of  condemning,  I  will  fokgive.  I  will  listen 
for  Intuition  to  guide  me  and  I  will  obey  this 
voice.  Intuition  means  the  Wisdom  within. 
I  will  look  upon  the  world  as  a  mirror  and  see 
reflected  only  my  own  Soul  Qualities.  In 
this  way  I  will  knoiv  when  I  see  limitation  it 
must  be  in  my  own  mental  consciousness ,  but 
because  I  am  a  child  of  God,  perfect, l  even  as 
my  Father  in  Heaven  is  perfect/  I  will  know 
that  the  seeming  limitation  is  only  relative 
truth  and  quickly  change  my  Vision  based  on 
my  Principle  of  Truth.  I  will  still  my  Mind's 
eye  and  develop  my  Soul  eye.  I  will  not  allow 
my  mind  to  rule,  but  will  use  this  wonderful 
instrument  of  mind  to  reflect  the  Song  of  my 
Soul.  It  then  becomes  like  a  peaceful  lake 
reflecting  only  Beauty,  and  when  my  mind 
thinks  only  Beauty  my  life  and  affairs  will 
truly  glorify  God." 


[113] 


LIGHT 

Faith 

For  the  true  pilgrim  knows  that  the  su- 
preme expression  of  life  is  abiding,  knowing 
faith,  faith  that  knows  there  is  God,  both 
personal  and  principle,  and  entrusts  to  Him 
at  all  times  and  in  all  things ;  and  it  is  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  that  just  such  faith  is 
not  only  reasonable  and  rational,  but  finally 
inescapable,  that  all  that  has  gone  before  has 
been  written.  Should  you  have  taken  excep- 
tion to  the  idea  of  a  " personal"  God,  remem- 
ber that  personality  exists  in  the  objective 
fractionally,  and  that  therefore  it  must  be  an 
attribute  of  the  genetic  subjective  in  toto. 

The  Biblb 

Our  Biblical  scriptures  are  majestic  and 
invincible  because  they  constitute  a  living 
record  of  human  faith  and  divine  promise 
united  in  fulfillment.  Adam  was  tested,  Abel 
was  received,  Cain  was  sent  forth  to  learn, 
Noah  was*  chosen  as  the  vehicle  of  transmis- 
sion, Abraham  was  made  recipient  of  the 
covenant,  Lot  was  rescued,  Isaac  was  spared, 
Jacob  was  envisioned,  Joseph  was  given  res- 
ponsibility.   Moses  became  liberator  and  edu- 

[115] 


The  Gist  of  It 

cator,  successive  extrications  were  effected, 
Balaam  withheld  the  curse.  Jordan  was 
crossed  and  Jericho  taken.  Euth  found  favor 
and  Naomi  was  restored  to  inheritance.  Han- 
nah was  made  fruitful,  Samuel  was  endowed 
with  prevision,  David  was  exalted  and  safe- 
guarded, blessedly  inspired  and  his  sin  par- 
doned. Solomon  was  enlightened  and  his 
reign  made  glorious.  Elijah  was  sustained 
and  translated,  Elisha  was  empowered,  Job 
was  instructed  and  the  prophets  illumined, 
all  to  instil  the  reality  of  faith  into  resistant 
but  cherished  peoples. 

Those  wonderful  old  books  are  to  be  taken 
just  as  they  were  written,  realizing  at  all 
times  the  relative  sense  and  purpose  of  each 
particular  passage,  not  dogmatically  insist- 
ing upon  schism-serving  li'teralness,  but  ap- 
preciating always  the  wide  deep  universality 
of  the  subjective  message.  Nor  is  faith  to 
be  objectively  crystallized,  even  in  them,  and 
that  is  why  Jesus  was  vouchsafed  as  eman- 
cipator from  rigid  moulds,  though  the  bonds 
of  doctrine  became  tightened  again  under  the 
vehement  influence  of  didactic  Paul. 

The  Ten  Commandments  Today 

Consider,  for  example,  The  Ten  Command- 
ments, than  which  we  nowadays  expect  even 
more  of  ourselves  than  they  in  actuality  re- 

[116] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

quire,  and  which  the  writer  has  ventured  to 
represent  as  follows: 

1.  God  is  altogether  good,  abide  in  Him. 

2.  Worship  no  material  thing,  personality, 
nor  personal  concept. 

3.  In  speech  be  not  flippant,  nor  soiled, 
nor  presumptuous. 

4.  Separate  from  sordid  things  one  day 
in  seven,  and  be  regenerate. 

5.  Have  respect. 

6.  Destroy  not. 

7.  Pollute  not. 

8.  Take  no  unfair  advantage. 

9.  Make  no  mischief. 
10.  Be  not  envious. 

The  first  and  great, — 

Entrust  to  God  and  receive  from  Him 

The  second  and  like, — 
Be  sweet. 

To  which  might  be  appended  three  more : 
Be  selfless. 
Despise  not. 
Understand. 

[117] 


The  Gist  of  It 

Prayer 

For  in  very  truth  there  is  no  separateness, 
and  in  this  gracious  understanding  prayer 
emerges  from  distant  supplication  into  the 
at-onement  of  perfect  realization.  In  pray- 
ing, then,  do  not  make  forlorn  appeal,  but 
offer  yourself  and  all  that  you  are  beseeching 
unto  God,  who  but  awaits  your  love  to  lavish 
on  you  His. 

Beading 

Should  it  be,  by  chance,  that  in  years  gone 
by  the  Bible  has  been  thrust  at  you  as  a  book 
of  terror  and  intimidation,  let  the  writer  sug- 
gest that  you  open  it  again,  and  turning  to 
some  one  of  the  shorter  books,  as  for  instance 
one  of  the  lesser  Epistles,  of  James,  or  Jude, 
or  John,  read  the  one  you  select  through  all 
by  itself,  disregarding  everything  else,  and 
retaining  only  the  subjective  realization  which 
will  grow  in  you  as  you  read.  Then  take 
one  of  the  Gospels,  and  making  suitable 
opportunity,  read  this  in  its  entirety,  without 
text-hunting  or  exegesis,  and  absorb  the  single 
message  as  before.  So  you  may  read  through 
the  whole  of  the  Scriptures  finding  nourish- 
ment and  peace. 

Miracles 
And  do  not  let  discrepancies  disturb  you. 

[118] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

They  only  exist  in  the  objective  fragmentary 
aspects,  not  in  the  composite  unity  of  the 
whole,  and  do  not  be  disquieted  by  the  seem- 
ing preposterousness  of  some  of  the  miracles, 
for  science  is  already  able  to  rationalize  most 
of  them,  including  even  the  submarine  journey 
of  Jonah.  Each  miracle  had  always  its 
inspired  purpose,  to  advance  the  steps  in 
comprehension  toward  that  to  which  we  are 
now  arriving,  and  if  to  this  generation  there 
are  no  objective  signs  given,  it  is  that  we  shall 
reach  up  and  be  joined  to  that  which  tran- 
scends. 

Other  Sources 

Nor  is  all  spiritual  inspiration  limited  to 
the  canonical  Scriptures.  Consider,  for  ex- 
ample, these  stupendous  soul-guidings  from 
"Light  on  the  Path": 

"Before  the  eyes  can  see,  they  must  be 
incapable  of  tears.  Before  the  ear  can  hear, 
it  must  have  lost  its  sensitiveness.  Before 
the  voice  can  speak  *  *,  it  must  have 
lost  the  power  to  wound.  Before  the  soul  can 
stand  *  *,  its  feet  must  be  washed  in 
the  blood  of  the  heart."  Complete  and  per- 
fect disengagement  from  all  that  is  objective, 
yet 

"Though  I  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men 
and  of  angels,  and  have  not  love,  I  am  be- 

[119] 


The  Gist  of  It 

come  as  sounding  brass,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal. 
And  though  I  have  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and 
understand  all  mysteries,  and  all  knowledge; 
and  though  I  have  all  faith,  so  that  I  could 
remove  mountains,  and  have  not  love,  I  am 
nothing.  And  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods 
to  feed  the  poor,  and  though  I  give  my  body 
to  be  burned,  and  have  not  love,  it  profiteth 
me  nothing. 

"Love  suffer eth  long,  and  is  kind;  love 
envieth  not;  love  vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not 
puffed  up,  doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly, 
seeketh  not  her  own,  is  not  easily  provoked, 
thinketh  no  evil;  rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity,  but 
rejoiceth  in  the  truth;  bear  eth  all  things, 
believeth  all  things,  hopeth  all  things,  en- 
dureth  all  things. 

"Love  never  faileth:  but  whether  there  be 
prophecies,  they  shall  fail;  whether  there  be 
tongues,  they  shall  cease;  whether  there  be 
knowledge,  it  shall  vanish  away.  For  we 
know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part.  But 
when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come,  then  that 
which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away. 

"When  I  was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I 
understood  as  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child: 
but  when  I  became  a  man,  I  put  away  child- 
ish things.  For  now  we  see  through  a  glass 
darkly;  but  then  face  to  face:  now  I  know  in 

[120] 


For  Healing,  Health  and  Happiness 

part;  but  then  shall  I  know  even  as  I  am 
known. 

"And  now  dbideth  faith,  hope,  love,  these 
three;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  love." 

Boundless,  all-cherishing,  infinite  love, 
which  our  chastenings  are  but  to  reveal. 
Love,  which  is  the  supreme  fulfilling,  in  which 
all  ache  dissolves,  and  in  which  our  restora- 
tion is  eternal. 

So  in  conclusion  let  us  offer  these  inspired, 
dazzling  lines  which  were  bestowed  through 
Mrs.  Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox,  in  a  poem  entitled 
"Elusion." 

The  Truth 

God  and  I  in  space  alone, 

And  nobody  else  in  view. 
"And  where  are  the  people,  O  Lord,"  I  said, 
"The  earth  below,  and  the  sky  o'erhead 

And  the  dead  whom  once  I  knew  ? ' ' 

1 '  That  was  a  dream, ' '  God  smiled  and  said, 
"A  dream  that  seemed  to  be  true. 

There  were  no  people,  living  or  dead ; 

There  was  no  earth  and  no  sky  o  'erhead ; 
There  was  only  Myself — in  you. ' ' 

"Why  do  I  feel  no  fear,"  I  asked, 
' '  Meeting  you  here  this  way ; 
For  I  have  sinned  I  know  full  well, 
And  is  there  heaven,  and  is  there  hell, 
And  is  this  the  judgment  day?" 

[121] 


The  Gist  of  It 

"Nay,  those  were  but  dreams,"  the  Great  God 
said, 
"Dreams  that  have  ceased  to  be. 
There  are  no  such  things  as  fear  or  sin ; 
There  is  no  you — you  never  have  been — 
There  is  nothing  at  all  but  Me. ' ' 


"He  that  is  able  to  receive  it,  let  him 
receive  it." 


Peace 


[122] 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


3  1205  00325 


4180 


m 


mm. 


■■■■•'''   sa$s 

!Bas0r,3¥3ra*3»8i 


•  '-''■.:;.■;•.= 
•■'■■'■....  ^ 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACIL 


AA      000104  300    9 


